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Suns, sans Shaq, square off against Lakers

Dec 10, 2008 - 11:37 AM Phoenix (13-9) at LA Lakers (17-3), 10:30pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Wednesday's showdown between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers will be stripped of at least some of its pre-game drama, as star center and former Laker Shaquille O'Neal will not be with the team to take on his former teammate and rival, Kobe Bryant.

O'Neal did not make the trip to Los Angeles, as he is attending to services for his great-grandmother, who recently passed away. He hopes to return to the club on Friday for its game against the Orlando Magic.

Without their veteran big man, the Suns will have to find another weapon one night after Shaq's - and the team's - best offensive showing of the season. O'Neal was the focal point on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 35 points to lead Phoenix to an impressive 125-110 victory.

It was the Suns' second win in a row following a four-game losing streak.

The Lakers, meanwhile, find themselves in an unusual situation - they're coming off a loss. They were defeated for just the third time on Tuesday, looking uncharacteristically lethargic and out of sync in a 113-101 loss on the road to the Sacramento Kings.

Now they face their Pacific Division rival, who they took three of four from last season and have already defeated once this campaign. Bryant struggled from the floor but still recorded 24 points to lead six Lakers in double figures in a 105-92 Los Angeles victory.