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PHOENIX, Arizona: Kobe Bryant exploded for 41 points to lead Los
Angeles to a 130-124 win over Phoenix on Wednesday, spoiling former
Laker Shaquille O’Neal’s debut with the Suns.
Bryant led four starters in double figures as
the reigning two-time scoring champion notched his 90th career
40-point outburst.
Bryant also passed San Antonio great David
Robinson for 27th on the all-time scoring list.
“It is my responsibility to kick it up to
another level,” Bryant said. “I am pleased with the way we
responded, executed and stayed within ourselves.”
Pau Gasol netted 29 points and Lamar Odom had 22
and 11 boards for the Lakers, who improved to 3-1 against Phoenix
this season.
“It is important for my teammates to
understand and believe we can do it,” Bryant said.
O’Neal, who was playing for the first time in
nearly a month, was acquired from the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion
and Marcus Banks on February 6 with the hopes of putting the Suns
over the hump in the loaded Western Conference.
A three-time NBA Finals MVP, O’Neal finished
with 15 points on six-of-nine shooting with nine boards in 29
minutes in his Phoenix debut.
“I will take the blame for this loss,”
O’Neal said. “A couple of times I didn’t know what was going
on out there. But a couple more practices and I should be right in
there.
“I told the coaching staff I am here and ready
to go. I really like this team. I will fit in.”
The trade for O’Neal might have been prompted
because of the Lakers’ acquisition Gasol, who came over from the
lowly Memphis Grizzlies on February 1 as the centerpiece in a
three-player deal.
O’Neal said he wants to make the most of his
final couple of years in the NBA.
“This is the final chapter of my book and I
have 730 days left,” he said. “My last two years I am going to
play with the great Steve Nash and the great Amare Stoudemire.”
-- AFP
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