Even with a balky knee and a list of other injuries that have plagued him this entire season,  Kobe Bryant still is among the most dangerous postseason scorers in NBA history — and he had no problem giving Los Angeles an early leg up in the Western Conference finals.

Black Mamba scored 40 points and Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 rebounds as the Lakers opened the series with a 128-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns Monday night.

Pau Gasol had 21 points for the top-seeded Lakers, who won their seventh straight playoff game and snapped the Suns’ six-game streak with a phenomenal second half, highlighted by Bryant’s 21-point third quarter.

During their week-long break, he barely stepped on the Lakers’ practice court to rest his ailing knee, ankle, finger and back; no injury would be a good enough excuse for Kobe to not shine in the playoffs.

Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points and Steve Nash had 13 points and 13 assists for the Suns, who hadn’t lost since April 24. Robin Lopez started at center and scored 14 points in his playoff debut, but Phoenix couldn’t keep up with the champs’ height and 58-percent shooting in the Suns’ first conference finals appearance since 2006.

Game 2 will be Wednesday night at the Staples Center.

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