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Lakers look for clincher at home

(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-04 11:15

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant pointed to his slightly soiled Lakers' T-shirt as he finished a session with reporters, smiled and said: "There's my baby-girl throw-up. I'm supposed to be worried about Raja Bell?"

The implication, of course, was the importance of Bryant's second daughter, Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, born Monday, and the insignificance of Bell, the Phoenix guard who slammed Bryant to the floor Tuesday night.

Bryant and his teammates won't have to worry about Bell in Game 6 on Thursday night when they try to eliminate the Suns from the first-round Western Conference playoff series.

On Wednesday, the NBA suspended Phoenix's primary defender against Bryant for his actions with 7 1/2 minutes left in a game the Suns had well in hand. Phoenix wound up winning 114-97 to cut the Lakers' lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

In a brief news release, the NBA said Bell was suspended one game for "excessive and unnecessary contact."

The Lakers have won eight straight at Staples Center, including Games 3 and 4 of this series, and 12 of 13.

"It should be a hell of a battle," Bryant said.

"It's always good to play at home," Lamar Odom said. "There's no pressure on us. It's the second seed (Phoenix) vs. the seventh seed (the Lakers)."

If the Lakers win, they'll play Game 1 of the second round Saturday night against the Clippers, who are waiting down the Staples Center hallway for their co-tenants. If those teams play, it will be the first postseason meeting between Los Angeles teams in the NBA, NFL or major league baseball.

Should the Suns win, Game 7 with the Lakers would be Saturday night in Phoenix.

"I just think the pressure is on both teams, and I love that," Suns star Steve Nash said. "We've just got to go out and play a good game, build on what we've built so far."