Phoenix

Lakers tonight AT PHOENIX Time: 7:30 PST On the air: TV: Channel 9, ESPN; Radio: 710; 1330. Where: US Airways Center. Records: Lakers 24-11; Suns 14-18. Record vs. Suns: 1-1. Update: The Suns have struggled since shaking up their roster by trading Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu to Orlando for Vince Carter and Marcin Gortat. The Suns have lost five of their last six games, including a 94-89 setback Sunday at Sacramento.

Amare Stoudemire scored 26 points and Steve Nash had 18 points and 10 assists before sitting out the fourth quarter while the Phoenix reserves completed a 123-101 rout of the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night that gave the Suns home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns made 14 of 24 three-pointers, 11 of 17 in the first three quarters. The Suns can finish no worse than No. 4 in the West and would be No. 3 if they win at Utah on Wednesday. Denver, which finished its regular season, would get the No. 4 spot and a first-round home-court edge if Phoenix beats the Jazz.

Do you like dreamy indie-rock bands? Fireworks? Extremely confusing (but visually stunning) music videos? Today is your day, friend. New clips from Phoenix and Beach House are making the online rounds, and though we haven't really a clue what either one of them is about -- both revolve around what appear to be elaborate sporting-event spectacles -- each is a treat to behold. First up: Phoenix's video for "Entertainment," the lovely lead single from the French band's upcoming "Bankrupt!

The Southern California division of the University of Phoenix conducted its sixth annual commencement on Sunday at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. Graduates received degrees in business administration and nursing and masters of business administration. Degrees: 240 were awarded. Speakers: Orange County Supervisor Gaddi Vasquez gave the commencement address. Student speakers were Daniel Eyob, representing the business graduates, and Dorothy Barnett, representing the nursing graduates.

I find it discouraging that Phoenix's biggest claim to fame may be a culture that honors the ability of urban runaways to settle into the life of shallow, disconnected couch potatoes--safely isolated behind walled homes in walled communities ("How Phoenix Got So Hot," by Louis Sahagan, Dec. 24). Even more discouraging is that these people want to make sure that only white potatoes can participate in this new version of the American Dream. No wonder they chose not to venture into the hot desert sun; their half-baked existence might be usefully stimulated by some additional cooking.