Too Much Sun in L.A.

A city waited, but never celebrated.

The Lakers still can’t call on the Clippers because of the Phoenix Suns, a lingering problem that’s growing larger by the quarter, putting up so many points in so little time and sapping the soul from Staples Center with a 126-118 overtime victory against the Lakers Thursday in Game 6.

The Suns tied the best-of-seven series at 3-3 and reminded everyone how they beat the Lakers in seven of the teams’ last eight regular-season meetings: They ran and ran, and then ran some more.

Steve Nash had his way with the Lakers, scoring 32 points and delivering 13 assists. Leandro Barbosa, filling in for the suspended Raja Bell, had 22 points.

Kobe Bryant countered with 50 points, the fourth-most in Laker playoff history and 21 more than he scored in any other game this series. Lamar Odom had 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

It wasn’t enough. Game 7 is Saturday in Phoenix. Road teams are 17-75 in Game 7s in league history.

Laker Coach Phil Jackson was already setting the table, drumming up the Lakers-as-underdogs theme.

“There’s a lot at stake,” Jackson said. “For them, terrific comeback for them. For us, it’s a monumental upset.”

At the same time, Jackson acknowledged how close the Lakers came in Game 6.

“We had it all done but crossing the ‘T,’ ” he said.

Maybe the Lakers will rediscover themselves in the desert. Or maybe the Suns will become only the eighth team in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

The Lakers had their chances in regulation, holding a late three-point lead, but Tim Thomas’ three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left sent the game to overtime.

The Suns dominated from there, winning overtime by a handy, and surprising, 21-13 margin. The Suns made seven of eight shots in overtime and all six of their free-throw attempts.

Bryant pushed the Lakers late in the fourth quarter, drilling a three-pointer as the shot clock wound down for a 103-102 lead with 1:46 left in regulation. Then he drove on Shawn Marion and hit a running layup for a 105-102 lead with 29.3 seconds left in regulation.

But the Suns answered, Marion keeping alive their possession by rebounding Nash’s missed three-point attempt. Thomas then pump-faked Kwame Brown at the top of the arc and cleanly hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 105-105.

“We were one rebound away from victory,” Bryant said. “We just weren’t able to secure that ball.”

There were other concerns for the Lakers.

The Suns blew past 100 for a second consecutive game. Thomas reemerged as a scoring threat with 21 points. Marion was more active, with 20 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. And it all came without Bell, their third-leading scorer during the regular season and their top defender.

“We’re just happy to have the chance,” said Nash, providing an underdog theme from the Sun perspective. “People had counted us out before the series, people had counted us out during the series. We were down pretty deep and we’re back in it.”

It didn’t look good for the Lakers at the start Thursday.

The Suns made nine of their first 10 shots, including all four of their three-point attempts, in taking a 22-12 lead.

The Lakers managed to gather themselves, taking a 37-30 lead at the end of the first quarter on Bryant’s banked 28-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.

Then came the second quarter, and the end of the Laker offense for a while.

The Lakers had nine turnovers in the quarter and were outscored, 30-20, as Barbosa zinged them for nine points. They surrendered consecutive 30-point quarters and trailed at halftime, 60-57.

“That’s their style,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have to do a better job of our style on Saturday. They definitely got things going and they’re playing with momentum.”

Saturday beckons. One last chance for the Lakers to face their friends down the hall in the second round.

“We’ll be fine,” Bryant said, repeating it again for emphasis. “It’s going to be a hostile environment. Looking forward to it. Let’s get it on.”