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Surging Lakers take aim at division-leading Suns

Dec 25, 2007 - 2:50 PM Phoenix (19-8) at LA Lakers (17-10) 5:00 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - Fresh off Kobe Bryant setting an NBA record, the surging Los Angeles Lakers will take a run at the one team ahead of them in the Pacific Division.

The Lakers face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and can pull within one game of the Suns with a victory. Los Angeles has won eight of its last 10 games, including a 95-90 road victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. With the win, the Lakers finished the trip 3-1.

With 39 points, Bryant became the 31st player overall and the youngest in league history to reach the 20,000-point plateau at 29 years, 122 days. Before Bryant, only Wilt Chamberlain (29,134) and Michael Jordan (29,326) had gotten there before turning 30.

The Lakers now play five straight at home, where they have a 9-4 record. Included in the homestead is a game on Monday with Boston, owners of the league's best record.

Phoenix comes in following a 122-103 home victory over Toronto on Saturday despite a career-high 42 points from the Raptors' Chris Bosh. Leandro Barbosa, starting in place of injured Raja Bell, scored 31 points. Amare Stoudemire added 28 and Grant Hill 25 as the Suns swept the season series from Toronto for the fourth consecutive year.

In the first of four meetings this season, Los Angeles handed Phoenix a 119-98 home defeat on November 2. Phoenix won three of four games against the Lakers last season, including both on the road.