FIRST-ROUND RESULTS (HOME team in CAPS)

Suns win 4-3 SU (3-3-1 ATS)
UNDER 4-3

5/6/06 - Game 7: PHOENIX 121, La Lakers 90 (ATS winner: Phoenix -5.5 | OVER 206.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Suns jumped on the Lakers right away - building a 32-15 first-quarter lead - and never looked back.  LA did outscore Phoenix 30-28 in the second quarter, but it wasn't nearly enough considering the spread.  Lakers star Kobe Bryant scored only one point in the entire second half after totaling 23 points in the first two quarters.  The Suns scored 30 points in three of four quarters, and a furious run by reserves from both teams generated 20 points in the last 2:45 to push the total OVER.

5/4/06 - Game 6: Phoenix 126, LA LAKERS 118 OT (ATS winner: Phoenix +4 | OVER 204)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: Tim Thomas' 3-pointer with 6.3 seconds left not only hurt LA's chances of covering the spread but also could be the difference in the Suns winning this series.  If Thomas would have missed that shot and the Lakers had gotten the rebound, they likely would have been fouled and had the opportunity to cover.  Instead, LA heads back to Phoenix tied 3-3 and in danger of becoming just the eighth team to blow a 3-1 lead.  The Suns kept the game at their OVER pace from the start despite handing the Lakers a 37-30 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

5/2/06 - Game 5: PHOENIX 114, La Lakers 97 (ATS winner: Phoenix -7 | OVER 205.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Suns jumped out to a 56-47 halftime lead thanks to NBA Most Improved Player Boris Diaw, who scored the team's last 11 points of the half, going 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.  In fact, Phoenix outscored LA in every quarter, building an advantage of 14 combined points over the second and third quarters.  The Suns had their best offensive game of the series, pushing the OVER pace from the first quarter on.

4/30/06 - Game 4: LA LAKERS 99, Phoenix 98 OT (ATS winner: push | UNDER 209.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: Two shots by Kobe Bryant saved the Lakers, as he sent the game into overtime with a runner with less than a second left in regulation and then sank a 17-foot jumper for the game-winner at the final buzzer in OT.  Both teams shot less than 45 percent from the field, with the Suns going to the free-throw line 16 less times than LA and scoring 11 points less from the charity stripe.  A 16-15 edge for the Lakers in the second quarter was enough to push the game UNDER for the fourth time in as many games in the series.

4/28/06 - Game 3: LA LAKERS 99, Phoenix 92  (ATS winner: LAL -2.5 | UNDER 210.5)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Lakers led 31-27 after the first quarter, which seemed to put the game on an OVER pace.  But LA limited the Suns to less than 20 points in two of the last three quarters, keeping them from running yet again and forcing the game UNDER.  The Lakers also held the lead consistently throughout the rest of the game, including the entire fourth quarter.

4/26/06 - Game 2: La Lakers 99, PHOENIX 93 (ATS winner: LAL +5  | UNDER 214)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: The Lakers jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead at 53-38 and were never really in any danger of losing the lead.  The Suns got within 61-58 after a 20-6 run in the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get.  Phoenix shot just 42 percent from the field, including 34 percent in the first half, contributing to an easy UNDER.

4/23/06 - Game 1: PHOENIX 107, La Lakers 102 (ATS winner: LAL +7 | UNDER 216)
Recap | Boxscore
SUMMARY: Phoenix forward Boris Diaw may have made Lakers bettors some money when he fouled LA's Brian Cook with five seconds left in Game 1.  Cook's two free throws cut the Suns' lead to four and then Tim Thomas made 1-of-2 free throws the final margin.  Had Diaw not been called for the foul and the Suns got the rebound, the Lakers may have fouled Phoenix with a six-point deficit and given the Suns the chance to cover.  Instead, LA beat the spread, using a 25-17 third-quarter advantage to stay in the game.  Phoenix scored less than 20 points in two quarter, allowing the UNDER to cash.

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

Phoenix wins 3-1 SU & ATS
UNDER 3-1

4/16/06 - LA LAKERS 109, Phoenix 89 (ATS winner: LAL -8.5 | UNDER 215)
4/7/06 - PHOENIX 107, La Lakers 96 (ATS winner: Phoenix -9 | UNDER 223)
1/20/06 - PHOENIX 106, La Lakers 93 (ATS winner: Phoenix -8 | UNDER 211.5)
11/3/05 - Phoenix 122, LA LAKERS 112 (ATS winner: Phoenix +2 | OVER 202.5)

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES RECAP: The Suns had won the previous seven meetings with the Lakers until the last one, which they played without their starting backcourt of Steve Nash and Raja Bell.  Phoenix averaged nearly 113 points during the seven-game series winning streak and was obviously a much different team without the reigning NBA MVP in Nash.  Regardless, Bryant averaged nearly 43 points per game against the Suns this season and will be the defensive focus.