LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant is swiftly regaining his confidence and timing. His conditioning improves daily, and he’s already leading the Los Angeles Lakers in scoring again.

Yet thanks to Goran Dragic and the exciting Phoenix Suns, Kobe still doesn’t have a victory.

Dragic scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Suns beat the Lakers 114-108 Tuesday night, dropping Bryant to 0-2 in his comeback.

Bryant scored 20 points while playing 29 mostly sharp minutes in his second game back from nearly eight months out with a torn Achilles tendon. He led a fourth-quarter rally by the Lakers, but they only got within four points with 3 minutes left before Phoenix held on.

Bryant gave his performance a “B” grade, but realizes he’s got more work to do — both on his game and his chemistry with the rest of the Lakers.