By Dan Robson, CBC Sports
Like an older brother giving a younger sibling a faint hope of winning in a game of driveway pickup — the Los Angeles Lakers toyed with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
The Lakers allowed the Suns to stick with them for three quarters in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference finals, but pulled ahead in the fourth en route to a 124-112 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.
Grant Hill dropped 17 of his 23 points in the third quarter and the Suns entered the final frame knotted with the Lakers at 90. For a moment, it looked as though the Suns had a fighting chance.
But it was getting late. And the Lakers had homework to do, or some television to watch. Game over.
Pau Gasol scored 14 points in the fourth, finishing with a total of 29, as the Lakers outscored the lacklustre Suns 34-22 in the final frame.
Kobe Bryant complemented Gasol's effort with 21 points and a Steve Nash-like 13 assists as the Lakers captured their eighth straight playoff win.
Jason Richardson dropped 29 points for the visiting Suns, adding to Hill's 23.
For the second straight game, Lakers fans chanted, "We want Boston, we want Boston," with many filing out of the Staples Centre before the final buzzer, feeling certain of victory.
"We've been able to play both styles of basketball," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We like to control the pace, but we feel comfortable if it's an accelerated pace."
Nash's 15 assists were marred by five turnovers. He added 11 points in the losing effort.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/story/2010/05/20/sp-suns-lakers.html#ixzz0oRr4O97k
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