LOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant dribbled toward the Lakers' bench, luring Channing Frye and Jason Richardson along with him. Bryant leaned back and launched a feather-soft jumper over Phoenix's double team, neatly beating the first-quarter buzzer.
That's about when the Suns should have noted the bright yellow brace on Bryant's right knee is the color of a caution sign.
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Even with a balky knee and a litany of additional woes, Bryant still is among the most dangerous postseason scorers in NBA history -- and he had no problem giving Los Angeles an early leg up in the Western Conference finals.
Bryant scored 40 points, Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 rebounds, and the Lakers opened the series with ruthless offensive efficiency in a 128-107 victory on Monday night.
"Just being aggressive, playing my game," Bryant said. "Got shots, took them. Got lanes to the basket, took them."
Pau Gasol had 21 points for the top-seeded Lakers, who won their seventh straight playoff game and snapped the Suns' six-game streak with a phenomenal second half, highlighted by Bryant's 21-point third quarter. He barely stepped on the Lakers' practice court during the past week to rest his ailing knee, ankle, finger and back -- all minor impediments to a major talent.
"I practice so much during the season," Bryant said. "In the offseason, I work a lot. To take a week off, I'm not going to lose all the work I put in prior to that."
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