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Shaq, Suns overcome Kobe to beat Lakers 118-111
Shaquille O'Neal scored 33 points as the Phoenix Suns overcame a 49-point performance from Kobe Bryant to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 118-111 on Sunday.
Shaquille O'Neal scored 33 points as the Phoenix Suns overcame a 49-point performance from Kobe Bryant to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 118-111 on Sunday.
Matt Barnes added 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Suns, without Steve Nash for the third straight game because of a sprained right ankle, beat the Lakers for the first time in four tries this season.
Pau Gasol had 30 for the Lakers, back-to-back losers for only the third time this season.
After his 45-point game against Toronto on Friday night, O'Neal has consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 5-7, 2004, when he and Bryant were teammates in LA.
Leandro Barbosa added 22 points and Grant Hill had 17 for the Suns, who improved to 6-2 since Alvin Gentry replaced the fired Terry Porter.
Pistons 105, Celtics 95
At Boston, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince each scored a 3-pointer in the final 80 seconds to help Detroit beat Boston. Hamilton had 25 points and nine assists in his second straight start since Allen Iverson returned to Detroit because of a stiff back. The Pistons had lost five straight regular season games to the Celtics _ 9-of-11 including a six-game Eastern Conference final that sent Boston on its way to a record 17th NBA title. Prince had 15 points, while Celtics forward Paul Pierce scored 26. Glen "Big Baby" Davis, starting in place of the injured Kevin Garnett, added 18 points.
