Ron Artest Buzzer Beater VIDEO: Shot Puts Lakers Over Suns

(GREG BEACHAM/AP) LOS ANGELES -- Ron Artest beat the buzzer with a wild bank shot after rebounding Kobe Bryant's miss, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 103-101 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Bryant had 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, but Artest was the improbable hero with just his second basket of the night.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO)

Jason Richardson banked in a straightaway 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left to tie it for the Suns, who rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half.

Bryant missed a difficult shot from the corner, but Artest rolled into the lane, collected the rebound and threw up a hideous shot that somehow went in.

Game 6 is Saturday night in Phoenix, where the Lakers can clinch the chance to play for their 16th championship.

Steve Nash had 29 points and 11 assists in a stirring second-half effort for the Suns, who hacked away at Los Angeles' lead throughout the fourth quarter. Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 95-94 when Nash converted a three-point play and then fed Amare Stoudemire for a layup that barely beat the shot clock with 2:52 left.

The Lakers led 101-96 with 1:38 left, but Nash hit another jumper and Artest missed two open shots. The Suns had three looks at a 3-point shot in the final seconds, but two missed before Richardson missed so badly that it banked in.

Pau Gasol had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who rebounded from consecutive losses in Phoenix with their best defensive performance of the series, forcing 15 turnovers and holding Phoenix to mediocre shooting - yet the Suns came agonizingly close to handing Los Angeles its first home loss of the postseason.

The Lakers improved to 8-0 at home, where they'll play Game 7 on Monday night if the Suns hold serve in a series featuring five wins for the home team.

WATCH:

Comments

[eldorado81]

11:56 PM on 05/31/2010

I'm sure the media is happy as heck their Lakers are back in the NBA Finals.I've never seen a sports franchise rooted on by the media as much as the Lakers are.I.ve never understood why its the Lakers who have to have the best coach and the best players.The league does have like 31 other teams I beleive.Expect to see Boston as the big bad guys and the Lakers portrayed as the heroes by ABC especially by Kobe Bryant suckup Stuart Scott.When the Celtics beat the Lakers two years ago for the title instead of giving the Celtics credit the Lakers and the media made it into some great abberration and now the beloved Lakers will get their revenge.Well the Celtics weren't supposed to beat Cleveland and they did and they weren't supposed to beat Orlando but they did.I hope the same thing happens to LA and we won't have to hear that stupid We Love L.A.song over and over.

[SeaShell226]

04:22 AM on 05/31/2010

Love you RON!
INDIANA really could have used you this year, but I am glad you are being appreciated there in L.A.
.

[Dots]

11:49 AM on 05/30/2010

Basketball. There is something inherently wrong with a game that is so often decided in the last few seconds. I rarely watch more than the last 5 or 10 minutes.
I think there should be more and different scoring options. Bounce it in for 3 / Shoot from the middle for 4 / kick it in for 4 / have a high mid-court ring for 2.
What do you think?

[ottonomos]

12:08 PM on 05/31/2010

I think you need to wait until barnum & baily come to town.

[Centaur]

09:52 PM on 05/29/2010

GO LAKERS!! Score update..Game 6 LAKERS 65 Suns 53 at the half..Artest 17 pts-Go RON RON..Boston, you're next!

[Centaur]

10:44 PM on 05/29/2010

Score update- LAKERS 91 Suns 54-End of the 3rd QTR!!

[Centaur]

11:30 PM on 05/29/2010

Lakers Win!! Lakers 111 Suns 103-The Black Mamba Strikes Again!!-No thanks to Sasha.

[Citizen-Jane]

08:20 PM on 05/29/2010

How 'bout that hometeam game clock. All in 3.5 seconds....? Really?

[RusStyles]

05:07 PM on 05/29/2010

I recall alotta hue and cry for Brown to be fired after they got a Beantowm beatdown--where is all the noise for Gundy's head? And I can hardly wait for the creative rationalizations.

[Citizen-Jane]

08:20 PM on 05/29/2010

x2.

[kornzilla]

10:50 PM on 05/28/2010

Sorry people If you knew anything about basketball you would realize Artest committed a offensive foul on the rebound. Reefs blew the call, basket shouldn't have counted.

[chuychrist]

08:20 AM on 05/29/2010

You Sir, are 110% Correct! In fact watch Artest's body language, he was waiting for the offensive foul call, then realized he got away with it.

[guitargeorge1964]

02:03 PM on 05/31/2010

Wow, a bad call deciding a game. If I knew anything about basketball I would know that's the first time that's ever happened.

[Ted Tillery]

09:29 PM on 05/28/2010

Lakers are getting worse every year. Suns will wrap up this series in the next two games. Keep in mind Kobe ended the last game with an airball

[guitargeorge1964]

02:04 PM on 05/31/2010

Wow, how embarrassing for you.

[jdrourke]

09:18 PM on 05/28/2010

First off, it wasn't a hideous shot - it was a layup from about six feet. The hideous shot came from Artest with about 51 seconds remaining in the game.

Secondly, was our esteemed mayor in attendance yet again...?

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/the-honorable-mayor-antonio-villaraigosa/

[Death to Crusaders]

07:31 PM on 05/28/2010

Lakers WILL repeat as Champs this year. Last year every series was a nailbiter but they found a way to win. Same thing this year. Skill and talent keep them in every game, and luck carries them thru . . . an unbeatable combination spelling DESTINY.

[jdrourke]

09:22 PM on 05/28/2010

Don't forget Derek Fisher! One of the smartest, and toughest players in all the NBA...

[Lemeritus]

02:02 PM on 05/29/2010

My guy ... downtown Derek Fisher!

[CaliTLC]

06:11 PM on 05/28/2010

OMG! The Lakers don't make it easy on their fans. I knew Ron Artest would be the only Laker open in the final seconds. Thankfully, he followed the shot to get the rebound and executed the layup perfectly. GO LAKERS!

[jsump]

03:35 PM on 05/28/2010

Artest Deserves a championship. He's the only reason that I hope the Lakers win.

[EndRacismNow]

03:40 PM on 05/28/2010

Were you a fan of his when he was on a previous team?

[AGarcia]

03:51 PM on 05/28/2010

He was actually great on the Pacers, almost won the whole thing.

[David Delgado]

03:17 PM on 05/28/2010

Hah! Thats what happens when you don't box out. Go Lakers!!!

[Andrew Hallam]

02:57 PM on 05/28/2010

god damnit i hate the lakers... all this luck makes phil jackson look like a genius. had that phoenix player actually BOXED OUT artest than we might be talking about los suns taking a 3-2 lead...

[EndRacismNow]

03:31 PM on 05/28/2010

Yeah, Jackson had all that 'luck' right after an extremely lucky bank shot 3 by Richardson after two lucky rebounds. Lakers won. Get over it. Blaming luck for your shortcomings won't change the outcome of the game. Lakers are awesome with just a few seconds left and the game on the line. Plus the Suns only would have gone to overtime. That didn't guarantee they would win.

[LogicalMathMan]

06:27 PM on 05/28/2010

I totally agree.

[MotorcycleBoy]

03:37 PM on 05/28/2010

"all this luck makes phil jackson look like a genius"

That statement makes you look like anything but a genius. Phil Jackson is the greatest NBA coach EVER! If you can't admit that, you're delusional.

The Suns were LUCKY just to tie the game...on a third try 'prayer'.

[eeasyrider]

02:46 PM on 05/28/2010

Lakers have lost the last 7 playoff games in Phoenix. Know I shouldn't do this. But I feel it. Black Mamba strikes a dagger in the heart of Phoenix Saturday and move on to the big show.