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Kobe Bryant scored nine points in the final 2 minutes, finishing with 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Phoenix Suns 111-103 and return to the NBA Finals for the third year in a row.

Bryant, with his 10th 30-point performance in his last 11 postseason games, moved ahead of Jerry West and into a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second-most 30-point playoff games at 75. He has a ways to go for the record of 109 held by Michael Jordan. “Kobe’s so good, “ teammate Lamar Odom said, “he makes incredible normal for us.”

Ron Artest added 25 points. But the night belonged to Kobe Bryant who has unstoppable during the Conference Finals. Bryant has the all-time lead for 30-point playoff road games when his team has the chance to clinch with 8.

Amare Stoudemire, in what may have been his last game with the Suns, scored 27 points but struggled to a 7-of-20 shooting. night. Nash added 21 points and nine assists in his 118th playoff game, the most for anyone who has never reached the finals. “You might say we overachieved,” Nash said, “but we’re a good team.”

Goran Dragic scored 10 of his 12 points in a fourth-quarter rally that got Phoenix within three points, but a steal by Odom, and a big buckets from Kobe sealed the win.

Lakers will face the Boston Celtics, who they lost to in 6 games in 2008. (Finals preview coming Monday) NBA Finals begin Thursday.

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The Lakers return to Los Angeles and get back to business, improved defense (15 turnovers for Phoenix), deflections ( 7 steals), and 10 blocks. Ron Artest beat the buzzer with a wild bank shot after rebounding Kobe Bryant’s miss, and the Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 103-101 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, but Artest was the improbable hero with just his second basket of the night after missing back-to-back threes on the previous possession. Pau Gasol had 21 points and 9 rebounds.

The Suns rallied from an 18 point deficit to tie the game with 3.5 seconds left. Of course the game winner went to Kobe, who air balled the shot. Ron Artest got the rebound and with 1.8 seconds left put it the basket off the glass.

Steve Nash had 29 points and 11 assists, and was the only consistent player the Suns had. Channing Frye had 14 points, and 10 boards. The Suns bench went from scoring 54 points in Game 4 to 31 in Game 5.

The Lakers had 28 dimes to the Suns 19.

Game 6 is Saturday night in Phoenix, where the Lakers can clinch the chance to play for their 16th championship. Lakers lead series 3-2.

Ron Artest / Craig Sager Interview: QUEENSBRIDGE

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

With 8:47 left in the 4th quarter, Suns head coach Alvin Gentry put Steve nash back in the game while Lamar Odom gave the Lakers lead. Phoenix went on a 17-6 run to get up by as much as ten and held on to win Game 3 118-109.

Amare Stoudemire had yet to show any intensity all series, and was a game away from losing a lot of cash this off season. He exploded in Game 3 with 42 points tying his Playoff career high, and 11 boards. He went 14 of 18 from the free throw line, while the Lakers as a team went 16-20. Phoenix had a 42-20 advantage at the stripe, +21 in makes.

Steve Nash was his usual brilliance with 17 points, and 15 assists. The Suns also got a big lift from Robin Lopez who finished with 20 points on 8 of 10 shooting. The Suns lead the league in 3 point% during the season, but shot a paltry 25% from deep. Fortunately for Phoenix the Lakers were lulled into the same game, shooting 9 of 32 from deep.

Kobe Bryant went to work early hitting seven of his first nine shots, finishing with 36 points 11 dimes, and 9 boards. Pau Gasol had 23 points and 9 rebounds, but that was about all the Lakers could muster against the surprise Suns zone-defense.  Lamar Odom was a big factor in the first two games vanished back itno his candy factory in Game 3 fouling out with 10 points on 4-14 shooting.

Suns look to tie the series on Tuesday. Lakers lead the series 2-1