LeBron James and LA Lakers finally off the mark with a blowout of the Phoenix Suns
- After four losses to start his California career, James gets first win in Arizona romp
LeBron James won his first game as a member of the 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 bench, and JaVale McGee led five starters in double figures with 20 points.
Kyle Kuzma scored 17 points and Josh Hart made his first start of the season for Los Angeles and scored 15.
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.
Los Angeles finished with 34 assists and eight turnovers while shooting 52 per cent from the floor.
The Lakers were without starting small forward Brandon Ingram and starting point guard Rajon Rondo, who were serving the second game of suspensions for their roles in a fight on Saturday night against the visiting Houston Rockets. Ingram was suspended four games and Rondo for three.
