NBA In-Season Tournament: Lebron James Stars As Lakers Beat Suns

LeBron James claimed 32 points and 11 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers ended a three-game losing streak with a 122-119 win at the Phoenix Suns.

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 38 points for Phoenix in what was both teams’ in-season tournament opener.

The Suns led 96-89 at the end of the third quarter after Durant scored nine points in a span of 71 seconds.

But the Lakers opened the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run to take the lead and ultimately held on.

After missing Wednesday’s game at Houston with a hip injury, Anthony Davis added 18 points for the Lakers, who won on the road for the first time in six tries.

Both teams now have a 4-5 record this season, with the Suns having played without Devin Booker (calf) for the seventh time in eight games.

There were a total of nine NBA games played on Friday, all part of the league’s new in-season tournament.

Luka Doncic scored 44 points on 17-of-21 shooting as the Dallas Mavericks beat the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 144-126. Kyrie Irving added 27 points for Dallas, who are now 7-2.

The Philadelphia 76ers enjoyed a seventh straight win as Joel Embiid had 33 points and 16 rebounds in a 114-106 win at the Detroit Pistons.

Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 28 points to help the Boston Celtics end a two-game losing streak with a 121-107 home win against the Brooklyn Nets, with Jayson Tatum adding 23 points.

Antetokounmpo scores 54 points but Bucks defeated by Pacers

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 29 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves came from behind for their fifth straight win, beating the San Antonio Spurs 117-110, despite 29 points from number one draft pick Victor Wembanyama.

Fred VanVleet drilled two late three-pointers as the Houston Rockets rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 104-101 at home to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Mark Williams had 21 points and a career-high 24 rebounds as the Charlotte Hornets won 124-117 at the Washington Wizards.

Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings won claimed a 105-98 home win against the Oklahoma City Thunder while the Utah Jazz recovered to win 127-121 at the Memphis Grizzlies.