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Nash, Suns face dispirited Lakers

Apr 26, 2007 - 1:59 PM Phoenix at LA Lakers 10:30 pm EDT Western Conference First Round Game Three

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Two-time MVP Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns can take a commanding lead over the Los Angeles Lakers with a win in Game Three of their Western Conference series.

Phoenix rolled to a 126-98 victory on Tuesday. Newly crowned Sixth Man of the Year Leandro Barbosa scored 26 points and All-Star center Amare Stoudemire added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Suns, whose 28-point margin of victory was the third highest in franchise history.

Shawn Marion collected 18 points and 10 rebounds and Nash added 16 and 14 assists for Phoenix, which led by six after the first quarter, 21 at halftime and 25 after three periods.

After making just 1-of-10 shots in the fourth quarter of Game One, Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was held to just 15 points in Game Two.

The nine-time All-Star connected on just 5-of-13 shots and and was held scoreless over the final 21 minutes.

Rookie Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom and reserve Maurice Evans each had 10 points for Los Angeles, which has dropped five straight playoff games, all to Phoenix.

Bryant, a three-time champion on Lakers teams earlier this decade, sounded like a beaten man after the game.

"We're just playing bad," Bryant said. "I'm extremely frustrated. One game in the playoffs can drastically change the energy of your team. Hopefully we don't feel too down about it."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson admitted the team is down.

"Depressed and humiliated is the mood of our club right now," said Jackson, who is tied with the late Red Auerbach for the most NBA titles with nine.

Last year, the Lakers held a 3-1 series lead over the Suns before losing the last three games.

This is the first time in 10 playoff appearances that the Lakers have fallen behind Phoenix, 2-0.

Only 11 of 193 teams in NBA history have come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-seven series

Phoenix has taken a 2-0 lead in a playoff series eight times and on five of those occasions it has won Game Three.

Game Four is here Sunday.