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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Smoke from the raging Northern California wildfires seeped into the Golden 1 Center, giving LeBron James a headache and leading Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton to shorten his players' stints on the court.
But the haze did little to slow James and the Lakers, who used their best defensive effort of the year to earn a 101-86 win Saturday night against the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles face up to .500 (6-6) for the first time this season.
James scored 25 points and recently signed Tyson Chandler had 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who started the season.
The Lakers held the Kings, who entered the game averaging 118 points per contest, to their lowest scoring total of the season. Los Angeles had held an opponent below 100 years ago, and it marked the first time.
"We won the game tonight because of our defense," Walton said. "I think we've been showing glimpses of that defense, but we've been able to do this for long stretches."
James hit three 3-pointers and had seven rebounds. Lonzo Ball, who was 2 for 10 from the field.
Chandler, playing in his second game with the Lakers, logged 23 minutes and scored three points. In his first game, the Lakers held Minnesota to 110 points – which, up until Saturday night's game, was tied for the lowest by any Los Angeles opponent this season.
'' For me, the defense has been easy because it comes naturally, but it's a matter of getting into the offense, '' Chandler said. '' The key for us was getting back on transition, building walls, forcing them into a half-court offense. ''
James said the Lakers' center duo of starter JaVale McGee and Chandler, who combined for 20 rebounds and a pair of steals, has solidified a defense that struggled early in the season.
'' (Chandler) just shored up our front court. We have a great 1-2 punch now with JaVale and Tyson, '' James said.
De'Aaron Fox had 17 points in the first half to lead the Kings, who shot 35 percent from the field and went 6 for 25 on 3-pointers. Willie Cauley-Stein added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Fox said the Lakers were able to shut down the Kings' fast-paced offense by getting back quickly on defense.
'' They got back every shot and they felt four people back, '' he said. '' And we did not shoot the ball well. ''
The Lakers were ahead by six points at the half and held at 76-65 lead entering the fourth quarter. They built that lead to 20 points at 88-68 before the Kings responded with a 10-0 run, but Sacramento got no closer.
ON THE REBOUND
The Lakers had a season-high 59 rebounds, including a season-best 17 on the offensive end. Five of Chandler's rebounds were offensive, while McGee had three of his eight rebounds on offense.
LEBRON'S RETURN
James made his NBA debut in Sacramento 15 seasons ago as the No. 1 overall draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in the Oct. 29, 2003, game in which the Kings defeated the Cavs 106-92.
BAD SHOOTING
The Kings are held to their worst field goal of the season, going 32 of 92 from the field. They were averaging 49 percent shooting coming into the contest, third best in the NBA.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Ball missed all of his 3-point attempts, most of them wide open. … There were plenty of Los Angeles fans in the stands, and several '' Let's Go Lakers '' singing in the fourth quarter.
Kings: Sacramento's 44 points in the first half matched a season low. … The Kings had scored 100 or more points in their seven previous contests. … Sacramento had a season-low 11 assists.
UP NEXT
Lakers: Return home to host Atlanta on Sunday.
Kings: Conclude a four-game home stand on Monday by San Antonio, which has won 14 straight against Sacramento.
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More NBA AP: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
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