LeBron’s first winner for Lakers

LOS ANGELES: LeBron James earned his first win as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists in a 131-113 victory against the host Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Lance Stephenson had 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists off the Los Angeles bench, and JaVale McGee led five starters in double figures with 20 points.

Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points, and Josh Hart had 15 for Los Angeles in his first start of the season. Lonzo Ball added 12 points, and reserve Kentavious CaldwellPope had 14.

Phoenix guard Devin Booker scored 23 points before leaving with a strained left hamstring late in the third quarter. Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

James had 10 points and five assists in the second quarter to help the Lakers outscore the Suns 44-24 and take a 76-54 lead into the half.

Los Angeles took its first double-digit lead on a basket by Stephenson with 9:30 left in the first half, and Hart’s steal and layup made it 63-43 with 3:51 remaining.

James drove to the basket in the final seconds, grabbed his own rebound off the glass and put it in with 2.4 seconds left on the clock, giving Los Angeles its biggest lead heading into the break.

Phoenix could only get as close as 17 points in the third quarter before the Lakers took a 106-86 lead into the fourth, when James sat out.

RESULTS

on Wednesday: — Atlanta 111 Dallas 104, Brooklyn 102 Cleveland 86, Miami 110 New York 87, Toronto 112 Minnesota 105, Chicago 112 Charlotte 110, Utah 100 Houston 89, Indiana 116 San Antonio 96, Milwaukee 123 Philadelphia 108, Lakers 131 Phoenix 113, Sacramento 97 Memphis 92, Golden State 144 Washington 122.