Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James drives through two Sacramento defenders. /ap
LeBron James is a winner for the first time as a Laker.
James scored 18 points in a back-and-forth first half before resting in the second half, watching his teammates pull out a 128-123 preseason victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
Brandon Ingram missed two free throws with 10 seconds left, but Kyle Kuzma tipped in the second miss to give the Lakers a 126-123 lead. Wenyen Gabriel had a good look at tying 3-pointer but it hit the front of the rim.
Ingram finished with 31 points, 11 from the free throw line.
De’Aaron Fox scored all of his 18 points in the first half, going 4 of 6 from 3-point range for Sacramento. Second overall pick Marvin Bagley III had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Buddy Hield added 16 points with four of Sacramento’s 13 3-pointers.
Lonzo Ball missed his third straight game and Rajon Rondo also didn’t play, leaving a starting backcourt of Ingram and Josh Hart.
PACERS 110,
ROCKETS 100
Victor Oladipo made four 3-pointers and scored 24 points, Domantas Sabonis had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Indiana beat Houston in its preseason opener.
TJ Leaf, starting in place of Thaddeus Young, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Reigning NBA MVP James Harden had 17 points and 10 assists in Houston’s first home game. Carmelo Anthony added 16 points.
Indiana went into halftime with some momentum after Leaf blocked Chris Paul’s 3-pointer and Oladipo banked in a 3-pointer just before the buzzer for a 54-48 lead.