O NEAL DEBUT SPOILED BY KOBE BRYANT

Kobe Bryant compiled 41 points and Pau Gasol added 29 points as the Los angeles Lakers sprinted past the Phoenix suns 130-124 here on wednesday to spoil the debut of Shaq.Lamar Odom had 22 points and 11 boards while Shaq stacked up 15 points on a 6-9 shooting along with nine rebounds for the suns.This was also Kobe 90th outburst of 40 or more points.Amare Stoudameire added 37 points and 15 boards while star guard Steve Nash added 26 points and also eight dimes to end up on the losing side.O neal came in a blockbuster trade that sent Marion and Banks to Miami and also he played for the Lakers from 1996-2004.

BARBOSA LEADS THE SUNS ASSAULT

Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell are one of the best shooters from beyond the arc in the NBA.Charlotte Bobcats had a hard time and were at the receiving end as they combined for 12 three pointers as Phoenix suns 16-36 from beyond the arc against Bobcats to beat them 118-104 and lost four away matches in a row.Raja Bell scored 24 points and Barbosa drained a game high 30 points and Jason Richardson scored 25 points for the Bobcats who were without Gerald Wallace.Phoenix made 22-of-35 shots (63 percent) in a 64-point second half.