O'Neal returned from the injured list Tuesday night, scoring 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting and grabbing 17 rebounds in the Lakers' 109-108 loss to the Boston Celtics.

O'Neal had missed the Lakers' previous five games while nursing an arthritic big toe. Los Angeles went 2-3 in his absence and is just 7-6 without him this season.

"He looked good," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said. "He's been keeping himself in shape in the time he had off. He's been able to come back tonight and be at full strength. I don't think he was fatigued."

Even with O'Neal back in the lineup, the Lakers suffered their third straight loss. It is their first three-game losing since Phil Jackson became coach in 1999.

The Lakers fell four games behind first-place Sacramento in the Pacific Division.

The Lakers used Samaki Walker and Stanislav Medvedenko at center over the last five games in O'Neal's absence. The two combined for just 16 points and 12 rebounds in the losses to Atlanta and Portland.

To make room for O'Neal, the Lakers placed Walker on the injured list with a hyperextended right elbow. Walker is averaging 7.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in 50 games.

A nine-time All-Star, O'Neal is averaging 26.1 points and 11.0 rebounds in 38 games this season, missing 10 due to the toe injury and three due to a suspension for throwing a punch at Brad Miller in a January 12 game against Chicago.