KOBE Bryant netted 38 points while Andrew Bynum grabbed a career-high 28 as Los Angeles Lakers posted a 122-115 victory over Phoenix Suns.
Bynum added 12 rebounds, while Derek Fisher scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half of the National Basketball Association contest as the Lakers ended a five-game Christmas losing streak.
The Lakers have played on Christmas Day every year since 1999, but the Suns hadn’t played on the holiday in 11 years – when they lost to the Lakers.
Both teams pushed the offensive action before Bryant found another level late in the game.
The All-Star guard, who became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points, at the weekend, collected 12 points in the fourth quarter as Los Angeles pulled away for the victory.
The Suns, who averaged an NBA-leading 109.5 points per game, meanwhile went cold in the final period.
Steve Nash finished with 24 points and 14 assists, while Amare Stoudemire added 19 points and Shawn Marion and Raja Bell each chipped in 15 apiece for the Suns.
Agence France-Presse
Source: Lakers make merry over Suns
