Kobe still winless after Suns beat Lakers

Goran Dragic scored 31 points and the Phoenix Suns beat the Lakers 114-108 on Tuesday night, keeping Los Angeles winless with Kobe Bryant back in the lineup.

Bryant led the Lakers with 20 points while playing 29 mostly sharp minutes in his second game back from a nearly eight-month absence with a torn Achilles tendon.

Bryant led a fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers, who got within four points with three minutes left before Phoenix held on for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

Marcus Morris scored 22 points and Eric Bledsoe had 18 points and nine assists for the surprising Suns, who never trailed after the opening minutes. Phoenix held off the Lakers with superb fourth-quarter play from both Morris brothers. Markieff Morris had 15 points.

Phoenix hadn't beaten the Lakers at the Staples Center since November 2010.

Bryant made just three turnovers against Phoenix after committing eight in his season debut two days ago, but had just two rebounds and three assists.

The game was another bump in a long road for Bryant, who had nine points in a rocky season debut on Sunday night.

He was unable to rally the Lakers late in a loss to trade-depleted Toronto, and he gave his performance an "F" after the game, but upgraded the score to a "D" on Monday.