The result was a second-half rally that gave the Suns a 95-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in their first-round playoff opener today.

Leandro Barbosa scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half, including 15 consecutive Phoenix points in one stretch, to match his career playoff scoring high. Amare Stoudemire, back in the postseason after missing last year's while recovering from two knee surgeries, added 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Bryant scored 39, but only 11 in the second half. The NBA's scoring champ was 1-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter, when Phoenix pulled away.

Steve Nash had 20 points and 10 assists and Shawn Marion 16 points and 16 rebounds for a Phoenix team struggled mightily until Barbosa provide the spark, highlighted by a 31-footer at the third-quarter buzzer that cut the Lakers' lead to 77-74 entering the fourth.

Lamar Odom had 17 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Phoenix in the rematch of last year's first round series. The Suns won the opener then, too, but lost the next three, then regrouped to win the last three and advance.

Barbosa's personal scoring surge erased a 77-71 deficit. His driving layup on an ultra-fast break put Phoenix ahead 79-77 with 10:29. It was the Suns' first lead since it was 13-11 midway through the first quarter.

The Phoenix run reached 16-4 after Boris Diaw made one of two free throws to give the Suns an 87-81 lead 6:27 from the finish. With Bryant misfiring, Phoenix stretched it to 91-83 on Stoudemire's dunk after a pass from Barbosa, who had tumbled to the floor, with 3:32 left.