LeBron, Davis make pre-season bow as Lakers edge Suns

FILE — Anthony Davis and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers watch a preseason game against the LA Clippers from the sidelines at Staples Center on December 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

LeBron James and Anthony Davis eased into the NBA’s pre-season on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers scored a 112-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

James, who barely two months ago led the Lakers to their NBA Finals triumph in Orlando, bagged 11 points with two rebounds and two assists during 15 first half minutes in Phoenix.

Davis added 10 points with four rebounds in 18 minutes on court. Both James and Davis were rested for the second half.

New Lakers signing Marc Gasol added three points in a 21-minute appearance. Kyle Kuzma led the scoring for the Lakers with 23 points.

The coronavirus-interrupted 2019-2020 campaign — which shut down for four months between March and July — eventually wrapped up in Florida in October.

With the new season tipping off on December 22, it means teams will have the shortest off-season in NBA history.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel had opted to rest both James and Davis for the team’s first two pre-season games against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Lakers have been installed as favorites for the upcoming season, strengthening their squad with the addition of Gasol, German point guard Dennis Schroder and center Montrezl Harrell.