Chris Carlson / AP

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson walks on to the court as Kobe Bryant sits on the bench before their game with  Phoenix on Thursday. It was the Lakers first regular-season game at Staples Center since Jackson was rehired.

As they did in the second and third quarters, the Suns dominated in the first few minutes of the final period, outscoring the Lakers 11-2 for a 106-89 lead with 9:09 remaining.

It was 108-91 when the Lakers went on a 12-2 run, making it 110-103. The Suns extended the lead to nine before Los Angeles went on a 7-1 run to draw within three points with 2:11 remaining.

But the Lakers wouldn’t score again.

Jones made a 3-pointer with 1:57 left, Bell added a jumper with 51 seconds to play, and Nash made two free throws with 30 seconds remaining to complete the scoring.

“I think their experience kicked in and overwhelmed us a bit tonight,” Bryant said. “We kept fighting back and did some great things with our execution. Our inexperience on defense hurt us, as they were spreading the floor extremely well and getting good looks at the basket.”

The Lakers had won 12 of their previous 13 home openers.

The Suns outscored Los Angeles 9-3 to start the third quarter for a 75-59 lead. With Odom scoring seven points and Parker adding five, the Lakers went on a 12-2 run to draw within six points. It was 95-87 entering the final period.

Phoenix scored the first 10 points of the second quarter to take a 41-30 lead. The Lakers got as close as two points before the Suns extended their lead to 66-56 at halftime.

Bryant scored 17 points in the first quarter including 13 straight for the Lakers at one stage. He lost his cool late in the period, drawing a technical foul for shoving Bell after being fouled.

Notes: Lakers F Luke Walton, who injured his left hamstring Oct. 11 in his team’s first preseason game, was cleared to practice starting Friday. “The last five or six days, I’ve been running. The last two days, I’ve been running pretty hard,” he said, adding there was no timetable for his return. ... The Suns swept the Lakers last season, winning the four games by an average of 11 points. The Lakers won six of the previous seven games between the teams. ... Chris Mihm was replaced in the Lakers’ starting lineup by Devean George. Mihm started all 75 games he played in last season — his first with the Lakers — as well as the season opener in Denver. He wound up getting three points and two rebounds in 14 minutes. ... Former Boston Celtics star Bill Russell and San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds were among those in attendance. “Everybody’s got to be someplace,” Russell said with a smile when asked what brought him to the game.

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Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Not in his house

Rajon Rondo had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 85-75 in Game 7 on Saturday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

CSN: Rondo's big-game DNA shines  |  Highlights

CSN: You may not see it from start to finish, but when the game — or in this case, postseason life — is on the line, you see just how good Rajon Rondo can be.

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