Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, puts up a shot as Detroit Pistons forward Jason Maxiell, upper right, defends and forward Tayshaun Prince looks on during the first half of their NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, in Los Angeles. AP/Mark J. Terrill
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers finally got their first victory of the season after an 0-3 start by beating the winless Detroit Pistons 108-79 on Sunday.
The bad start to the season followed a dismal 0-8 record in preseason games to have alarm bells ringing for the Lakers, but the big names responded on Sunday, with new signing Dwight Howard scoring 28 points while Kobe Bryant had 15 points and eight assists.
Jonas Jerebko scored 18 points for Detroit in the second stop on a difficult six-game road trip.
The New York Knicks have, by contrast, had an impressive start to the new campaign with a big win over fancied Miami, and extended that with a 100-84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points and J.R. Smith had 20 for the Knicks, who sank 11 3-pointers to give them 30 long shots in two games. They have won their two games by a combined 36 points.
Jrue Holiday had 27 points and seven assists for the 76ers.
The Toronto Raptors were another team to notch a first win of the season, following two defeats, by downing the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-86.
Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 22 points for the Raptors who have won 15 of their past 16 against Minnesota, including nine in a row at home.
Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points for the Wolves, who were outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter, making just four of 16 field goal attempts.
The Orlando Magic produced a stunning second-half turnaround to beat the Phoenix Suns 115-94.
J.J. Redick scored 24 points while Arron Afflalo and Glen Davis each had 22 points for the Magic, who trailed by 13 points early in the second half, but used a 40-point third quarter to turn the game on its head.
Luis Scola’s 24 points led the Suns, whose shooting eroded in the second half.
Atlanta also produced a late surge, putting on their best in the fourth quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-95.
Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds while Lou Williams added 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter when the Hawks produced a decisive 12-4 scoring spell.
Kevin Martin scored 28 points off the bench to lead the Thunder.