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Suns C O'Neal returns to LA for clash with Kobe's Lakers

Feb 26, 2009 - 11:22 AM Phoenix (32-24) at LA Lakers (47-10) 10:30 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal looked as if they were the best of friends during the festivities at the All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Their relationship will have a considerably different feel on Thursday when Bryant leads the Los Angeles Lakers against O'Neal's Phoenix Suns.

Despite winning three straight NBA Championships together from 1999-2002, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat ahead of the 2004-05 season as his relationship with Bryant soured beyond repair.

However, the dynamic duo was reunited on February 15, sharing All-Star MVP honors as the Western Conference cruised to a 146-119 victory.

Questions swirled during the post-game press conference as to whether Bryant and O'Neal could be headed towards a return engagement in Los Angeles, but the reigning league MVP was quick to dismiss the notion.

Instead, they will face off against one another when the Lakers go for their sixth straight win after claiming a 107-93 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.

The Suns are coming off their fourth win in five games, forging a 112-102 triumph over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday.

Former two-time MVP Steve Nash injured his right ankle while landing awkwardly on a 3-point shot in the third quarter and was forced to leave the game. He returned for a short stint before shutting it down for good.

"It is a little swollen and sore but, if I had to guess, it is not going to be a long-term thing - just be careful for the next 48 hours," Nash said. "I thought I would give it a shot but when I got out there I had no strength."