LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, Ron Artest added 15 points and five steals, and the Los Angeles Lakers raced away from the Phoenix Suns in the second half of their ninth straight victory, 108-88 tonight.

Pau Gasol scored 14 points for the well-rested Lakers, who improved to an NBA-best 16-3 with their second home win in 24 days over road-weary Phoenix.

Two nights after Bryant banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a one-point win over Miami, the Lakers didn't need another lucky shot. They made a 15-1 run late in the third quarter, holding Phoenix without a field goal for 3½ minutes.

Amare Stoudemire had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who scored their fewest points of the season while playing in their sixth city in 10 days.