• Dummond helps Lakers top Nets.

Dennis Schroder helped send a Lakers team missing Lebron James and Anthony Davis off to a sizzling start.

And after Schroder was thrown out along with Kyrie Irving in the third quarter, the defending champions really turned it on.

Andre Drummond had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Schroder scored 19 points before he and Irving were ejected and the Lakers beat the Brooklyn Nets 126-101 on Saturday night in New York.

“Today we were out here competing, making shots and, yeah, that’s the best win of the year I would say,” Schroder said.

A nationally televised matchup already missing plenty of star power lost even more when Irving started jawing with Schroder and neither player stopped quickly enough for the officials.

The Lakers had led most of the way and were ahead 6662 when Irving fouled Schroder with 9:41 left in the third. Los Angeles blew it open soon after the ejections with a 15-2 burst to open an 88-71 lead.

A potential NBA Finals preview had a preseason feel with so many top names unavailable. James (right ankle sprain) and Davis (right calf strain) remain out for the Lakers, while James Harden is sidelined with a strained right hamstring for the Nets.

The Lakers handled being short-handed much better, putting eight players in double figures. Ben Mclemore, in his second game with Los Angeles, scored 17.

“I learned a lot from today’s game, that we have a lot of guys in this locker room that are very tough,” Drummond said. “Despite who’s on the other side of the court, they’re going to come out and play.”

Kevin Durant scored 22 points in his second game back following a 23-game absence with his own hamstring injury. Irving added 18, but the Nets had their nine-game home winning streak snapped.

The Lakers were also without Kyle Kuzma (left calf strain), Marc Gasol (left hamstring tightness) and Wesley Matthews (right Achilles tendon tightness).

Raptors 135, Cavaliers 115: Gary Trent Jr. scored a career-high 44 points and visiting Toronto scored a franchise-record 87 first-half points en route to a blowout of Cleveland. Toronto rookie Malachi Flynn had season highs of 20 points and 11 assists in his second NBA start.

76ers 117, Thunder 93: Joel Embiid had 27 points, nine rebounds and four blocks to lead visiting Philadelphia past Oklahoma City. Furkan Korkmaz added 20 points for the Sixers.

Jazz 128, Kings 112: Donovan Mitchell scored 42 points, Mike Conley had 26 and Joe Ingles added 20 off the bench as host Utah ran away with it in the second half. De’aaron Fox scored 30 points and Richaun Holmes had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings.

Suns 134, Wizards 106: Devin Booker scored 27 points, Chris Paul had 10 assists and Deandre Ayton had 10 rebounds as host Phoenix rolled.

Warriors 125, Rockets 109: Stephen Curry scored 38 points, making eight of 15 3pointers, and Andrew Wiggins added 25 for host Golden State.

Trail Blazers 118, Pistons 103: Enes Kanter scored 24 points and grabbed 30 rebounds, 12 offensive, as host Portland won. Damian Lillard scored 27 points and CJ Mccollum had 26 for the Blazers.

Notable

Former baseball star Alex Rodriguez and e-commerce mogul Marc Lore signed a letter of intent Saturday to buy the Timberwolves and keep the NBA team in Minnesota, owner Glen Taylor said.

Lakers 126, Nets 101

COREY SIPKIN AP Lakers center Andre Drummond, who finished with 20 points, grabs one of his 11 rebounds between Nets defenders Bruce Brown (left) and Lamarcus Aldridge.