“There were some costly plays down the stretch that didn’t go our way. We did everything we could to win the game. It wasn’t meant to be.”

Nash also said his back stiffened up after he returned to the game early in the fourth quarter, but quickly added: “We still had our chances to win.”

He shot 2-of-11 after halftime.

Regarding Bryant, Nash said: “It was amazing. He had two opportunities and made two great shots.”

Phoenix’s Tim Thomas expressed anger and frustration concerning the big plays involving Nash.

“We have Nash, the NBA’s MVP last year, and he can’t get a call,” Thomas said, alluding to the play when Parker stole the ball.

“Boris and Steve called timeout, but we did not get the call,” Thomas said of the play leading to the jump ball. “It was the most difficult loss, by far, of my career.”

Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Bryant had 24 points and eight assists, Kwame Brown added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Devean George scored 11 points — all but two in the fourth quarter.

Nash led the Suns with 22 points and 11 assists, but scored only six points after halftime. Diaw had 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Shawn Marion had 20 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter, and Thomas scored 12 points.

“I thought we had it won twice,” Marion said.

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The Suns took what appeared to be a safe 90-85 lead on Diaw’s foul shot with 12.6 seconds remaining, but Parker made a 3-pointer with 7.9 seconds left to draw the Lakers within two. He was 1-of-10 from the field before that.

Phoenix then called a timeout, and Parker made his big steal from Nash shortly after the Suns inbounded the ball in their frontcourt. George got the ball to Bryant for the game-tying basket.

“We made big shots, but they made bigger shots,” Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said.

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Bryant played only 9½ minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, but the Suns failed to take advantage. The game was tied 41-all at halftime.

Notes: The Lakers have won 12 of their last 13 home games and 14 of their last 18 overall. ... The Lakers outrebounded the Suns 42-41 after outrebounding them 53-34 in Game 3, which they won 99-92. ... No team coached by Jackson has ever lost a series when leading 2-1, going 22-0 in such situations. ... Marion got his first double-double of the series. He was third in the NBA with 60 during the regular season ... Lakers C Chris Mihm was on the inactive list because of his sprained right ankle. He missed 17 of the final 18 games of the regular season and hasn’t played in this series.

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