Lakers 128, Suns 107

All the other stuff, the chatter about injuries and layoffs and hot opponents, was quickly forgotten in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals tonight at Staples Center. The bottom line was that the Phoenix Suns couldn't stop Kobe Bryant. Grant Hill tried. Jason Richardson tried. Jared Dudley tried. Bryant still dropped 40 points on the Suns, making 13 of 23 shots and 11 of 12 free throws. By night's end, it was easy for forget he did not practice once with his teammates during the Lakers' six-day layoff. He sore right knee held up just fine and the Lakers won their seventh consecutive playoff game. Game 2 is Wednesday.