BRIEF DEBUT
LeBron James starts his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers who eventually lost to Denver Nuggets in their NBA preseason game
LeBron James scored 13 points in 15 minutes of his Staples Center home debut, but the Nuggets rallied after he departed to beat the Lakers, 113-111, for the second time in three nights in the NBA preseason.
Mason Plumlee went 11 for 11 and had 23 points for the Nuggets, who outscored the Lakers 65-52 after halftime.
Denver came from 18 down after beating Los Angeles 124-107 in San Diego.
Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic had 20 points, six rebounds and four assists while Will Barton was one for 12 from the field, zero for six from inside the arc. Malik Beasley scored 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. Trey Lyles was four for five and had 12 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.
JaVale McGee continued his strong preseason with 15 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. He shot five for eight after going eight for 10 for 17 points in the first meeting. Rajon Rondo had 11 points and seven assists while Josh Hart scored 14.
Meanwhile, Kevin Love made all 17 of his points in the first half for Cleveland and Collin Sexton started the second half, scoring 11 of his 15 points after the break. The Cavaliers sank 15 markers.
Marcus Smart had 15 points and Marcus Morris scored 14 for Boston.
The Celtics made a push in the fourth quarter and closed within five in the final minute of Cleveland’s exhibition opener.
Cleveland led by as many as 21 in the first half and went into halftime up 59-40. /