Jason Richardson led with 35 points for the Suns, who extended their winning streak to a season high four games.
Steve Nash added 17 points for Phoenix, who pulled with three games of idle Dallas for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West with 13 to play.O’Neal joked about trying to catch Wilt Chamberlain.
“It shows I’ve been consistent at what I’ve been doing and the next guy is my illegitimate father - Wilt Chamberlain - so just like in Star Wars, hopefully I can catch up to my father.”The Los Angeles Lakers overturned a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 117-109 helped by Kobe Bryant’s 28 points.
Spaniard Pau Gasol added 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Western Conference-leading Lakers (55-14), who have the league’s second best record behind Eastern leader Cleveland (56-13).Three other Lakers finished in double figures. Trevor Ariza had 18 as a starter, Lamar Odom added 16 and Jordan Farmar had 13 in the first of seven consecutive road games for Los Angeles.
“They kind of overwhelmed us with their energy in the first half,” Bryant said.” We wanted to come out (after halftime) and do the same.”The Lakers reserves provided that spark to beat the Bulls.”So many things went against us tonight - we could have easily just went, ‘Ah well, we’ll get the next one,’” said Lakers guard Derek Fisher. “But guys off the bench were contributing.”
John Salmons had 30 points and Derrick Rose scored 25 for the Bulls (32-38), who are trying to hold on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.Despite the loss, Chicago is a game ahead of Charlotte and one and a half games in front of Milwaukee and New Jersey for the eighth spot.The Lakers trailed 62-48 at the half but produced a 33-point third quarter to cut the deficit to six with one period left in the ballgame.
