LOS ANGELES - The Phoenix Suns almost blew another big fourth-quarter lead.

But not quite.

Shawn Marion had 30 points and 11 rebounds, Steve Nash had 17 assists to go with 12 points, and the Suns held off the weary Los Angeles Lakers 122-112 on Thursday night.

The Suns, who blew a 17-point lead in the fourth period before losing 111-108 to Dallas in double overtime Tuesday night to start the season, led by 17 with 8½ minutes left in this game.

The Kobe Bryant-led Lakers got as close as three points before the Suns scored the game’s final seven points.

James Jones added 17 points, including a game-turning 3-pointer; Raja Bell and Kurt Thomas each scored 14; Leandro Barbosa had 12, and Eddie House scored 10 for the Suns.

“We maybe learned a little bit from the first game, where we had them beat and couldn’t withstand the flurry at the end,” Nash said. “But we’re improving, and that’s a good sign.

“Anytime people step up at the end of games to close teams out, that’s the sign of a good team. We had a couple of guys who made some big plays and made us a winner tonight.”

Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said the difference near the end of the two games wasn’t difficult to figure out.

“We didn’t hit the big shots against Dallas. We did tonight,” he said.

Bryant led the Lakers with 39 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Lamar Odom had 23 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, and Smush Parker matched his career high with 21 points.

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The game was the Lakers’ home opener, and their first regular-season game at Staples Center since Phil Jackson was rehired as coach. They opened the season with a 99-97 overtime victory in Denver on Wednesday night and didn’t arrive back in Los Angeles until 3 a.m.

Jackson received a loud ovation before the opening tip — not long after saying fans attend NBA games to watch the players, not the coaches.

“The excitement is on the floor,” he said.

Afterward, Jackson said he was pleased with the Lakers’ effort — especially in the fourth quarter.

“They are obviously a better team now than we are,” he said. “They played better than we did tonight, that’s for sure.

“For a losing cause, I enjoyed the game. Smush Parker played an entertaining game. We played with a sense of purpose. We just didn’t get it done down the crunch.”

The Lakers won only 34 games last season and missed the playoffs for just the second time since 1976.