SoCal NBA Preview

Phoenix (26-12) at LA Lakers (26-11), 7:30 pm, ESPN

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The surging Los Angeles Lakers will try to stretch their winning streak to eight games when the Phoenix Suns come calling Thursday.

Superstar Kobe Bryant turned in his best scoring performance of the season in Monday's 123-121 victory against the Seattle SuperSonics, pouring in a season-best 48 points - including the game-winning shot with four seconds remaining. "This is a tough one," said Bryant, who has 86 career 40-point games. "(Monday) was one of those nights where I kind of had to read the mood of the team."

Bryant might need to step up his scoring with the loss of center Andrew Bynum, who will be out for a minimum of eight weeks after MRI tests revealed a subluxation of the patella and a bone bruise in his left knee. With two wins over Phoenix already under its belt this season, Los Angeles goes for its first three-game winning streak in the series since rolling off five straight from January 3-December 21, 2003.

Phoenix hopes to bounce back after dropping a 97-90 decision to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday despite Amare Stoudemire's 29-point performance. Two-time MVP Steven Nash has been difficult to defend, averaging 21.5 points and 8.5 assists against the Lakers this season.