James scores 29 points as Lakers defeat Magic

LeBron James scored 29 points and played exclusively at center in the second half as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit and beat the Orlando Magic 116-105 on Friday night.

Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel replaced starting center Dwight Howard with James to start the second half, and the Lakers opened the third quarter on a 20-2 run.

Carmelo Anthony scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half and hit four 3-pointers, while Stanley Johnson added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Point guard Russell Westbrook had 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. When Westbrook fed James for an alleyoop in the fourth quarter.

Rookie guard Jalen Suggs scored a careerbest 22 points for the Magic while Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points. RAPTORS 109, WIZARDS 105 >> Fred VanVleet hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 59 seconds to play, and the Toronto Raptors hung on after blowing an 18-point fourth-quarter lead to beat the Washington Wizards.

Rookie Scottie Barnes scored a career-high 27 points, VanVleet scored 21 and had 12 assists.

Bradley Beal led Washington with 25 points. CLIPPERS 102, 76ERS 101 >> Reggie Jackson scored 19 points, including two free throws with 18.2 seconds remaining, and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied from a 24-point secondhalf deficit to beat Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Nicolas Batum had 15 points, seven rebounds and a key steal late in the game for the Clippers.

Embiid had 40 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Tobias Harris added 20 points and Tyrese Maxey had 19 points and eight assists for Philadelphia, which lost for the third time in its last 12. HAWKS 110, HEAT 108 >> Trae Young scored 28 points, Kevin Huerter added 21 and the Atlanta Hawks won their third straight game after nearly blowing an 18-point lead in a 110-108 victory over the Miami Heat.

Bam Adebayo finished with 21 points and Duncan Robinson had 19 for Miami (29-17). HORNETS 121, THUNDER 98 >> Terry Rozier scored 24 points, Miles Bridges added 22 points and 14 rebounds, and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points.