Anyone who watched the 2010 NBA playoffs can learn a lesson from the Phoenix Suns and their highly entertaining brand of basketball. The Suns can flat out play, with gorgeous passing, pinpoint shooting and fancy dribbling. It’s often poetry in motion, and it has made Phoenix a fan favorite in the NBA. Still, like years before, the Suns failed to reach the final, and defense was once again their undoing. Steve Nash, Amare Stoudamire and the rest of the Suns put the ball in the basket plenty throughout their series with the Los Angeles Lakers, but they just couldn’t get stops on the defensive end of the court. When all was said and done, the Lakers advanced in six games, primarily because they played great defense when it mattered most. Phoenix, on the other hand, watched from home once again, all because they couldn’t.

Kobe Bryant hit yet another buzzer-beating three-pointer and finished with 39 points as the defending NBA champions overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Sacramento Kings 109-108 on Friday night.

Omri Casspi had another solid game, scoring 23 points (shooting 8 for 13, and 3 for 4 from three-point range) in 41 minutes on the floor. He also had three assists and a steal. Spencer Hawes had a career-high 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Lamar Odom had a season-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the NBA-leading Lakers.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — LeBron James’s 28 points Saturday keyed Cleveland’s 94-86 win over the NBA-worst New Jersey Nets.

James also contributed nine rebounds and seven assists as the Cavaliers won their seventh game in a row despite shooting just 39.5 percent from the field and making just 4-of-14 3-pointers.

Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao and Shaquille O’Neal also hit double figures for Cleveland.

The Nets, who have lost 11 of their last 12 games, got 22 points from Devin Harris and 20 from Brook Lopez.