LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant has made a bunch of big shots during his exceptional 10-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the two he hit against the Phoenix Suns led to a most improbable victory, the smile he flashed afterward made clear his level of satisfaction.

Bryant scored on a looping runner with seven-tenths of a second left in the fourth quarter to force overtime, and made a 17-footer as time expired to lift the Lakers to a 99-98 triumph over the Suns on Sunday. The victory also gave Los Angeles a 3-1 lead in the first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three titles, from 2000-02, but with O'Neal gone, last year's team failed to make the playoffs. Many thought it would be the same story this season. But now, the Lakers are one win away from advancing to the second round.

"It was the most fun shot I've ever hit, just because it's us, enjoying this as a unit," Bryant said of the game-winner. "The difference is, in the past, people expected us to win these games.

The Lakers can win the best-of-seven series Tuesday night in Phoenix. A sixth game, if necessary, would be played Thursday night at Staples Center.

Wizards 106, Cavaliers 96

At Washington, LeBron James was quiet after a tremendous first half, and Gilbert Arenas scored 20 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Wizards' comeback and tie the first-round series at 2-2.

As dominant as James was early, setting franchise playoff records for points in a quarter (18) and half (25), he was nowhere to be found at times in the second half. He took only three shots in the third quarter, missed all, and wound up with 38 points.

Bulls 93, Heat 87

At Chicago, Kirk Hinrich scored 21 points and hit a key 3-pointer with 1:09 left to lead help the Bulls tie their first-round series with Miami 2-2.

With Shaquille O'Neal in foul trouble for much of the game, the Bulls built a 13-point lead in the third quarter, only to fall behind in the fourth before pulling the game out. Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday in Miami.

Kings 102, Spurs 84

Bonzi Wells had 25 points and 17 rebounds, Brad Miller added 19 points and the eighth-seeded Kings rolled through the second half of their second straight home victory.

Mike Bibby scored 16 points and Ron Artest had 14.