Recap: LA Lakers vs. Phoenix

Leandro Barbosa scored 22 points to lead a balanced Phoenix attack, as the Suns beat the Lakers, 106-98, snapping Los Angeles' seven-game winning streak.

Steve Nash totaled 13 points and a season-high 20 assists for the Suns, who bounced back after a loss at the Staples Center two nights ago to the Clippers. Shawn Marion totaled 20 points and 16 rebounds for Phoenix, which beat the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time in three meetings this season and moved a half-game ahead of LA for first place in the Pacific Division and for the overall best record in the Western Conference.

"It was very important. They beat us the first two times out, but we got this one tonight," Marion said. "That's all that matters now. We've got Minnesota tomorrow. It's one win. We still have a long way to go."

Kobe Bryant had 30 points for the Lakers, who also got 19 points and 19 rebounds from Lamar Odom. Jordan Farmar added 16 points for the Lakers, who suffered only their fourth loss in 21 games.

"I don't think it's that big of a deal," Bryant said of the lack of rhythm in LA's offense. "I think for us it was just one of those games where we came off a nice stint and the energy was a little low, so it's time to rebuild that energy."

The Lakers were behind 56-43 at the half and the Suns widened their lead to as many as 20 in the third before holding a 79-61 cushion going into the fourth.

LA came surging back though and pulled within 79-71 on eight straight points from Sasha Vujacic and an Odom dunk.

Phoenix went back ahead by double digits and was in front 99-86 with 3:06 left after a Nash three-pointer, before the Lakers had one final run.

Odom's two foul shots capped five straight Laker points, pulling them to 102-96 with 46.5 seconds left, but Boris Diaw swished a jumper with 24 seconds left to seal the victory.

Diaw ended with 19 points, while Raja Bell and Amare Stoudemire each had 16 for the Suns, who shot 51.9 percent from the field.

Vujacic tallied 10 points, as the Lakers struggled to 37.9 percent shooting.

The Suns scored eight of the game's first 10 points, but the Lakers used eight straight points at the end of the quarter to get within 27-24. Phoenix started the second on an 18-4 surge.

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