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Tickets at Ticket Master
The Los Angeles Lakers are eager to show the rest of the NBA that they're still
very capable of winning a fourth title in five years despite a turbulent first
half, highlighted by off-the-court controversy and a rash of injuries.
After just three games, its apparent they mean business.
The re-energized Lakers look to make it four straight victories since the All-Star break as they visit the Phoenix Suns at America West Arena.
Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points and 13 rebounds as Los Angeles beat up on Philadelphia 116-88 on Friday to improve to 3-0 since the break. Kobe Bryant added 28 points although he played just two minutes in the third quarter after picking up his fourth foul.
``We can get it
cracking quickly,'' said Bryant. ``We've done it. We know how to do it. (Shaq's)
happy, I'm happy. He's playing with a lot of energy. It's old hat.''
The dynamic duo is starting to click on the court, even if their off-the-court
relationship is still viewed as lukewarm at best.
``We can just look at each other and say, `You ready?' and turn it up,'' O'Neal said. ``We've been in this league long enough to know when to turn it up and know how to turn it up.''
Los Angeles is picking things up without Karl Malone in the lineup. The veteran power forward has been out since early December with an injured knee.
``We don't have all our pieces of the puzzle in yet. We're playing well right now, we can play much better,'' Bryant said. ``When we get Karl (Malone) back, he's going to make us a much, much better team.''
Malone said Friday he hopes to return by March 8, when the Lakers visit his former team, the Utah Jazz.
Malone, O'Neal and Bryant all sat out the last time Los Angeles played Phoenix on Jan. 19 as the Suns upset the Lakers 88-85 at Staples Center.
Phoenix is 0-3 since the break, extending its losing streak to a season-high seven games. The Suns are just 2-13 since beating the Lakers.
Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points, but fouled out with 4:28 remaining as the Suns were beaten by the Memphis Grizzlies 97-92 on Friday. Shawn Marion added 21 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.
STANDINGS (through Feb. 20): Lakers - 2nd place, 5 GB, Pacific Division. Suns - 7th place, 23 GB, Pacific Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Lakers - F Rick Fox, F Slava Medvedenko, C O'Neal, G Bryant, G Gary Payton. Suns - F Marion, F Stoudemire, C Jake Voskuhl, G Leandro Barbosa, G Joe Johnson.
TEAM LEADERS: Lakers - Bryant, 22.3 ppg; O'Neal, 11.1 rpg; Payton, 5.9 apg. Suns - Marion, 18.9 ppg and 9.4 rpg; Howard Eisley, 4.4 apg.
SEASON SERIES: Lakers, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 19; Suns, 88-85. At Los Angeles, Johnson scored 26 points to lead the Suns over the short-handed Lakers.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Lakers - 12-15 on the road; Suns - 12-15 at home.
INJURIES: Lakers - F Jamal Sampson (ankle); F Malone (knee). Suns - C Maciej
Lampe (shin); F-C Keon Clark (ankle).