By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY  were in a zone to start the Western Conference finals, averaging 126 points in the first two games at home. Sunday, the  The Suns stymied the Lakers with a zone defense from the second quarter on, and Amar'e Stoudemire tied a career playoff high with 42 points in a 118-109 win in Game 3.  The Suns trail 2-1 and can draw even here Tuesday in Game 4.  Stoudemire, criticized for his disappearing act in Los Angeles, was aggressive from the start. "My dedication to the game should never be questioned," he said. "I always give 100%. … I came out tonight with a chip on my shoulder."  The Lakers shot slightly better than the Suns (48.3% to 46.3%) and outrebounded them (41-40). Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol totaled 59 points on 24-for-38 shooting (63.2%).  The Suns, though, hit the pressure shots and made key defensive stops down the stretch. Stoudemire, a force inside, had a game-high 11 rebounds.  Center Robin Lopez was stellar in the post for Phoenix, too, with 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting.  It was a reversal of fortune for Phoenix. With the score tied at 90 in Game 2, the Suns opened the fourth quarter shaky as Los Angeles pulled away to win 124-112. This time, the Lakers faltered, with six turnovers in the first six minutes. The Suns went on to lead by as many as 11 points.  "We slowed them down. … We had to find a way, and tonight it was the zone," said Suns point guard Steve Nash, who had 17 points and 15 assists, many to Stoudemire.  Nash, who hurt his eye banging into Tim Duncan's elbow in the sweep of the San Antonio Spurs, possibly broke his nose late on Derek Fisher's elbow. "It was ugly to start the game," Nash said of his nose, "and it remains ugly."  Phoenix, dominated inside in the first two games, won with its big men, and a big advantage at the free throw line.  Lopez, whose 7-foot presence gave the Suns some much-needed toughness inside, logged 31 minutes, by far his most playing time since returning from a back injury at the start of the series. Phoenix made 37-of-42 free throws, 14-of-18 by Stoudemire. The Lakers were 16-of-20 at the line.  Bryant had 36 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. Gasol scored 23 points, but the Lakers didn't get as much help from their supporting cast as they did in the first two games.  The Suns, the second-best three-point shooting team in NBA history in the regular season, were just 5-of-20. But Jason Richardson (FSY) was 4-of-7, including one with 26 seconds to go to put the lid on the triumph, snapping the Lakers' eight-game playoff winning streak.  "We certainly didn't come out to play the way I wanted," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, "and we certainly didn't play the way I wanted at the end."  Stoudemire scored repeatedly on drives to the basket, when he either made the basket, was fouled, or both. The All-Star power forward, who can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season, made 10-of-12 shots in the second half, scoring 16 in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.  Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said he knew Stoudemire would respond.  "He knew he didn't play well in L.A.," Gentry said.  As for Lopez, Gentry called the second-year pro's offense "a big surprise." Lopez had been out since March 28 with a bulging disk before playing in this series.  Los Angeles, though, led 90-89 when Lamar Odom (FSY) made two free throws with 8:47 to play.  Lopez entered the game for the struggling Channing Frye (FSY), and Phoenix took the lead for good 91-90 on Jared Dudley's (FSY) baseline drive with 8:27 left.  Frye missed all seven of his shots, five of them threes, and is shooting 1-for-20 in the series, 1-for-14 on threes. He has missed 17 straight shots.  Phoenix scored the last seven points of the second quarter to lead 54-47 at the half and was up 86-84 after three quarters, thanks to two free throws by Leandro Barbosa (FSY) with 1.5 seconds left following an ill-advised foul at midcourt by Shannon Brown (FSY).  You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference.
Amar'e Stoudemire answers his critics by matching his playoff career high with 42 points as the Suns cut the Lakers' series lead to 2-1.