Lakers Finally Beat Suns After Three Overtimes, 139-137

A classic game at Staples Center between the Lakers and Suns ended with the home team outlasting the Suns in triple-overtime, 139-137.

The fans certainly got their money's worth.

Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 42 points, and almost had a triple-double with 12 rebounds and nine assists.

But the player of the game for the Lakers may have been Ron Artest. Having slumped and been the subject to trade rumors, the Lakers are hoping that Artest returns to form as they head into the playoffs, and his play on Tuesday night may be evidence that he still has some gas in the tank.

Artest had 18 points, five rebounds and three steals. He hit an important three pointer in the first overtime, and in the third overtime Artest came up with a big steal that led to his breakaway dunk, and with a little more than a minute remaining, he went around Vince Carter and hit a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line to increase the Lakers lead, before Bryant put the game away.

The game was also an example of the Suns' resiliency.

The Suns received great contributions from center Marcin Gortat, who scored 24 points, and added 16 rebounds in 53 minutes of play, and power forward Channing Frye who scored 32 points and 14 rebounds.

Frye's three free throws, after a Lamar Odom foul on Frye's three-point shot attempt, tied the game in the first overtime with 1.1 seconds remaining and sent the game into the second overtime.

Steve Nash, who at age 37 remains an elite point guard, contributed 20 assists to go along with his 19 points in 49 minutes.

It was a moral victory for the Suns, who will need efforts like Tuesday to make the playoffs with 13 games remaining. Phoenix is currently three games out of the final spot.

The Lakers, who hope to remain in second place in the West, might look back at this victory with a bit of disdain for surrendering a 21-point lead in the third quarter.

Starting center Andrew Bynum was unavailable due to suspension.