SAN DIEGO - Nothing in his statistics lately indicated that Tom Gugliotta was on the verge of a breakthrough.


He had averaged five points and 4.3 rebounds in three preseason games before the Suns came here to take on the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

But coach Scott Skiles saw something more.

"He's back to moving like he was before he was injured, and now we just need to see results," Skiles said before the Suns beat the Lakers 112-101 before a sellout crowd at the Sports Arena here. "We want to see the Googs that we know and like, the guy who rebounds the ball, puts it on the floor and makes plays. I'm very comfortable it's going to come."