LeBron James claims first LA Lakers victory

LeBron James claimed his first NBA win as Los Angeles Lakers defeated Phoenix Suns with a 131-113 victory. 

The three-time NBA champion put up 10 assists with 19 points, and seven rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, with the Lakers 20 points ahead.

The Lakers start the season with three consecutive defeats after 33-year old James joined from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer.

The Lakers lead by Lance Stephenson’s 23 points off the bench in Phoenix.

Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram were not in action for the visitors, who are serving bans for their involvement in a brawl during defeat by the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

Before exiting in the third quarter with a sore hamstring, Devin Booker hit 23 points for the Suns while Deandre Ayton had 22, who is 2018's number one overall draft pick. 

Elsewhere, Golden State Warriors, defending champions beat the Washington Wizards 144-122, with Stephen Curry scored 51 points in three quarters, including 11 three-pointers. 

The 30-year old two-time MVP, finished three points short of his career high of 54 and three three-pointers short of breaking his NBA record of 13 made in a single game as he missed the fourth quarter.

So far this season, his 51 points is the most by an NBA player, breaking Blake Griffin's 50 in their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Curry also moved into fifth on the league's all-time three-pointers made list, above Suns guard Jamal Crawford with 2,162.

In last year's Western Conference finals, the Rockets, who lost to the Warriors, fell to their third defeat in four games as they lost to Utah Jazz at home by 100-89.