LeBron, Anthony Davis get new-look Lakers past Pelicans

LOS ANGELES(AP) — LeBron James had 21 points in his first game since becomingthe NBA’s career scoring leader, and Anthony Davis had 28 points,10 rebounds and five assists in the new-look Los Angeles Lakers’120-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesdaynight.

D’AngeloRussell had 21 points and seven assists during his warm welcomehome to the Lakers, who won for just the second time in six games.Los Angeles’ five new players all made their home debuts after lastweek’s busy trade deadline, and the Lakers never trailed in one ofthis up-and-down team’s most impressive performances of theseason.

“There was ahuge emphasis on getting this win,” Davis said. “Guys came out andplayed with a lot of energy and urgency. ... It was only our firstgame together, but it looked good.”

James onlyhad to play a season-low 29 minutes after taking the previous threegames off to rest his sore left ankle and foot immediately after hesurpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record Feb. 7.

“I feelreally good about what we’ve got brewing, but we need to lock in,”James said. “It’s the first time we’ve all been on the floortogether, so we wanted to see what it looks like, and the first 40minutes looked pretty good.”

Russell’sdebut was actually a homecoming, because he played his first twoNBA seasons for Los Angeles before getting traded four times andeventually returning last week. Russell was clearly thrilled to beback in Hollywood, putting on an impressive playmaking performancewhile also repeatedly exhorting the crowd to standing ovations forthe Lakers.

After he hita 3-pointer in the second half, Russell celebrated by pointing atthe letters on his chest and screaming to the fans: “Like I neverleft!”

“I love thosemoments,” Russell said. “We had Bron tonight, and we seemed alittle more fluid. Everybody pitched in. Everybody played a majorpart in keeping the lead, maintaining it, getting stops. I likewhat we showcased tonight.”

The Lakershit the All-Star break in 13th place in the 15-team WesternConference at 27-32 — but the season isn’t over yet, and they’vegot promising reinforcements.

Russell,Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley joined James and Davis in theLakers’ 30th starting lineup of the season, while Mo Bamba fouledout in 16 minutes as the backup center in his Lakers debut.

“It was justhot,” said Beasley, who scored eight poitns. “We wanted to make astatement and do what we do.”

BrandonIngram scored 25 points and C.J. McCollum had 22 points and nineassists in his return from a one-game absence with a sprained rightankle for the Pelicans, who lost for only the second time in sixgames.

“We justdidn’t play with a sense of urgency, and those were my end-of-gamecomments to our team,” coach Willie Green said. “We have to playwith more force and have a sense of urgency that we just didn’thave tonight. Not a great effort on our part.”

New Orleans’Josh Richardson was ejected for arguing a no-call with 10:52 toplay.

TIP-INS

Pelicans:Zion Williamson attended the game and greeted James during atimeout. He has missed 22 straight games with a strained hamstring,and he is expected to be out for several weeks after the break. ...Former Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. sat out with left groinsoreness.

Lakers: DavonReed played the final 3 1/2 minutes and hit a 3-pointer. ... Bambahad four points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.