Raja Bell returned to a hero’s welcome from a one-game suspension for throwing Bryant to the floor in Game 5. He scored 13 points and drew three offensive fouls against Bryant.

“We’ve got bigger fish to fry now,” Bell quipped, a reference to Bryant’s derisive comments about him after a regular-season game.

Jackson lost for the first time in 45 series where his team had the lead.

The Lakers — after losing 126-118 in overtime at home in Game 6 Thursday night — barely offered resistance Saturday night, cutting the lead to single digits only once after falling behind 28-13 in front of a raucous packed house.

The Suns started the first quarter with a 16-6 run and ended it with a 12-2 spurt. They made 14 of 20 shots for 70 percent, while the Lakers were a bumbling 6-for-20.

With the Suns leading 20-13, Barbosa sank a 13-footer and a layup, then dished off to Marion for a stuff in an 8-0 surge that put Phoenix ahead 28-13 with 1:15 left in the first.

After Kwame Brown, who was 1-for-5 in the first quarter, made two free throws, Bell made a 20-footer and Barbosa two free throws to put Phoenix ahead 32-15 after one.

CLIPPERS VS. SUNS Suns win series 4-3 Game 7: Nash carries Suns in to West finals Wilbon: Tough to beat playoffs Interactive: Past playoffs' defining moments Day-by-day, series-by-series schedules

Barbosa’s layup to start the second quarter made it 34-15. Bryant cut the lead to single digits, 45-36, with a 3-pointer 6:21 before halftime. But Bell followed with a 3, then Bryant was called for an offensive foul. Replays showed Bryant elbowed Bell to the face, the kind of play the Suns’ guard had complained about throughout the series.

Tim Thomas’ stuff with 5:32 remaining in the half put Phoenix ahead 50-36.

Bryant’s 21-footer as the shot clock expired cut the lead to 50-40, but the Suns scored the next six with Diaw’s two free throws making it 56-40 with 51 seconds to go.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos

Nash left the court with a slight limp after stepping on Marion’s foot on the play but returned in the second half.

Bryant made a 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining, then Diaw sank a 20-footer with 1.1 seconds to play and Phoenix led 60-45 at the break.

Notes: The Clippers and Suns split their season series 2-2. ... Barbosa scored 48 in the final two games of the series. ... Brown finished 2-for-10 shooting. ... The Lakers’ Smush Parker was 7-for-37 shooting the last three games.