NBA

Suns strike back, cut into Lakers’ series lead

Diaw just misses triple-double in Game 5 win; Bryant ejected late in 4th

Matt York / AP

Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant walks off the court after being ejected against the Suns. Phoenix won Game 5 on Tuesday, cutting the Lakers' series lead to 3-2.

“He didn’t like my toneage, if that’s a word.” Bryant said. “He’s the decider. Is that a word, decider?”

Whether Brown’s problems were a distraction for Los Angeles or not, the Suns finally got their fast-paced game in gear to blow open a 22-point third-quarter lead.

Diaw scored the Suns’ final 11 points of the first half — going 9-of-9 at the foul line — to lead Phoenix to a 56-47 at the break.

Ronny Turiaf, playing for the first time in the series, completed a three-point play to put Los Angeles up 39-37 with 5:09 left in the second quarter, then the Suns outscored the Lakers 19-8 the rest of the half.

In the third quarter, the Suns’ trademark high-flying style made its first appearance since the opening quarter of the series.

Marion and Bell sank 3-pointers in a 21-7 run that put Phoenix ahead 79-58 on Diaw’s emphatic fast-break dunk with 3:15 left in the quarter. Nash’s layup, followed by his free throw following a delay-of-game technical, put Phoenix ahead 84-62 with 1:22 to go in the third.

But Brian Cook and Bryant sank 3-pointers to cut it to 84-68 entering the fourth. Bryant’s inside basket to start the fourth sliced the lead to 84-70.

Notes: The Suns’ 29 points marked the first time in the series that they had topped 20 in the second quarter. ... Of the seven teams to come back from a 3-1 series deficit, five won the NBA title. ... Phoenix has not lost four straight playoff games since it was swept by the Lakers in the 1989 Western Conference finals.

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