Los Angeles, CA (My Sportsbook) - Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his return to the lineup to help his club post a 92-84 victory over Portland.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, reached the 40-point mark for the eighth straight game, as the Lakers won their third straight. The last player to score 40 or more in as many consecutive games was Michael Jordan, who did it in nine straight early in the 1986-87 season. Wilt Chamberlain scored at least 40 in 14 consecutive games early in the 1961-62 season.

Bryant finished with exactly 40 points by hitting a jumper in the closing seconds, as the Lakers beat the Trail Blazers at home for the fifth straight time.

Bryant finished 15-for-32 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, and 7-for-9 from the free throw line.

O'Neal had missed the last three games with a sore left knee and right big toe. He shot 7-of-10 on free throws in the fourth quarter.

O'Neal scored six of the Lakers' final eight points to help seal the win for Los Angeles, which has won eight of its last 10 games.