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Bryant scores 48 as Lakers drop Suns

Jan 11, 2012 - 7:24 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant put together another vintage performance with 48 points on Tuesday, shouldering the load as the Lakers took down the Suns, 99-83.

Bryant shot 18-of-31 from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line to help Los Angeles complete an unblemished three-game homestand.

Pau Gasol chipped in 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Andrew Bynum added 12 and eight in the victory.

Marcin Gortat totaled 16 points and 12 rebounds for Phoenix, which had won three of four coming in. Channing Frye scored 17 points in defeat.

The Lakers started slow and trailed 19-10 following a Gortat basket six minutes in.

Bryant then caught fire over the final four minutes, scoring 13 points on LA's 15-0 quarter-ending run.

"I just tried to generate some energy with our ballclub," Bryant said.

The Lakers led 46-42 at halftime, 73-68 at the end of the third quarter and never trailed in the fourth.

A three-pointer by Frye pulled Phoenix as close as 83-82 near the midway point, but the Lakers responded with the next 10 points, as Bryant threw down the exclamation point with a reverse alley-oop dunk.

The Lakers led by double digits the rest of the way.

"We did a good job of defending Kobe, he just makes tough shots," Suns head coach Alvin Gentry said.

Game Notes

Bryant has scored 30 or more points in four of his last five games. He has 108 career 40-point games...The Lakers have won seven straight at Staples Center since dropping their home opener to the Bulls...Steve Nash totaled 13 points and eight assists for the Suns, who were outrebounded, 49-35.