Artest, Lakers beat Suns at buzzer in Game 5

LOS ANGELES - Ron Artest became a part of the Lakers' playoff lore with a bank shot to beat the Phoenix Suns.

Artest rambled into the lane and beat the buzzer with a wild shot after grabbing Kobe Bryant's air ball, and the Lakers edged the Suns, 103-101, 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 of Game 5 with just his second basket of the night in an otherwise awful performance.

Jason Richardson banked in a straightaway three-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 everything on a difficult shot from the corner, but Artest collected the rebound and raised to his tiptoes to throw up a hideous-looking shot that somehow went in. Artest, who missed two open jumpers just a few seconds earlier, grabbed Bryant in a joyous bear hug while the Staples Center crowd went nuts.

Game 6 is tomorrow night in Phoenix, where the Lakers can clinch the chance to play for their 16th championship. Said Bryant: "It's going to be tough but we're looking forward to it."

Steve Nash had 29 points and 11 assists in a stirring second-half effort for the Suns, who hacked away at L.A.'s lead throughout the fourth quarter. Phoenix trimmed its deficit to 95-94 when Nash converted a three-point play. The Lakers led 101-96 with 1:38 remaining, but Nash hit another jumper and Artest missed twice. The Suns had three looks at a three-pointer in the final seconds, but two missed before Richardson missed so badly that he banked it in from a long step behind the line.

Derek Fisher scored 22 points and Pau Gasol had 21 for the Lakers, who will host Game 7 Monday night if the Suns hold serve in Phoenix.