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 yesterday.

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 L.A.

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.

Cavaliers 88, Hawks 87

At Atlanta, LeBron James scored 26 points, including the winning free throw with 1.6 seconds left, as Cleveland beat Atlanta for its seventh win in eight games.

The Hawks, after rallying from a 13-point deficit, squandered a five-point lead in the final 1:42. Delonte West hit a jumper, Mo Williams sank a 3 and James won it for the Cavs on their final possession. He drove from the top of the key and was fouled by Al Horford.

Johnson led the Hawks with 21 points.

Mavericks 109, Raptors 98

At Dallas, Jason Kidd handed out 15 assists to become the fourth player in NBA history with 10,000 for his career as Dallas beat Toronto.

Kidd reached the milestone with 1:04 left in the third quarter when he handed out his 13th of the night, passing to Brandon Bass for a 10-foot turnaround. He trails John Stockton (15,806), Mark Jackson (10,334) and Magic Johnson (10,141) on the NBA career list.

Dirk Nowitzki had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Mavs, while Josh Howard added 16 and Antoine Wright had 15.

Chris Bosh paced the Raptors with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Andrea Bargnani added 18.

Hornets 99, Nets 96

At East Rutherfors, New Jersey, David West scored 32 points and Chris Paul made two key steals in the final minute to lead New Orleans past New Jersey for its fourth straight win.

Rasual Butler added 22 points for New Orleans, and Paul had 14 points and nine assists.

Devin Harris and Vince Carter each had 26 to pace the Nets, winners of their two previous games. Harris also had 14 assists while Jarvis Hayes added 13 points.

Rockets 105, Timberwolves 94

At Minneapolis, Yao Ming had 17 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in Houston's victory over Minnesota.

Ron Artest scored 23 points and Aaron Brooks had 22 points and a career-high 10 assists for the Rockets, who had lost five of their last six games on the road.

Randy Foye scored 24 points and Craig Smith had 20 for the Timberwolves.

Pacers 100, Nuggets 94

At Indianapolis, Jarrett Jack had 28 points and eight assists, and Troy Murphy had 22 points and 18 rebounds as Indiana hung on to beat Denver.

Marquis Daniels added 19 points and six rebounds for the Pacers, who've made a habit of beating the league's top teams. Indiana has defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston, Cleveland, Orlando and now, Denver.

Chauncey Billups led the Nuggets with 27 points and seven assists. Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points, but was 8-for-24 from the field, and Nene added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Trail Blazers 102, Spurs 84

At Portland, Oregon, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 26 points to help Portland spoil the return of Tim Duncan to San Antonio.

The Spurs didn't even play Duncan in the fourth quarter after Portland led by as many as 29 points. The All-Star forward had missed the last three games with a right quad injury.

Steve Blake added 15 for the Blazers, who won their ninth straight at the Rose Garden Arena. Portland is 24-5 at home this season.

Tony Parker had 15 points for the Spurs. Like Duncan, he did not play the fourth quarter.

Jazz 112, Warriors 104

At Oakland, California, Mehmet Okur scored 23 points and Deron Williams had a season-high 20 assists as Utah beat Golden State for its eighth straight win.

Ronnie Brewer scored 21 points one night after getting a career-high 26 for the Jazz, who moved within two games of Northwest Division-leading Denver. Utah hasn't lost since receiving a 20-point thrashing from the Warriors in Oakland three weeks ago.

Corey Maggette scored 27 points and rookie Anthony Randolph had a career-high 20 for the Warriors, who rested leading scorer Stephen Jackson. Golden State also is resting Monta Ellis' surgically repaired left ankle for at least two weeks as a precaution.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 2, 2009)