LeBron shines in the final moments against the Kings but emphasizes the importance of teamwork for the Lakers.

 LOS ANGELES — LeBron James exploded in the fourth quarter on Saturday, scoring 16 of his game-high 32 points in just three minutes, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 131-127 victory over the Sacramento Kings and a perfect 3-0 start to the season.

During a remarkable 21-0 run to open the final quarter, James contributed 18 points, including 11 consecutive points, before assisting Jaxson Hayes on a dunk and scoring five more himself.

Despite the impressive display, James emphasized that such bursts won't be necessary for the entire game for the Lakers to succeed this season.

"I could do that at 22, but at almost 40, I don't need to be doing it for four quarters," he said, also recording 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his 113th career triple-double. "I have the luxury of having an MVP-caliber player next to me in Anthony Davis. AR [Austin Reaves] can get hot in bunches, D-Lo [D'Angelo Russell] can catch fire, and Rui [Hachimura] is consistent and capable of scoring a lot."

James noted, "This team isn't built for me to have 16-point quarters throughout the game. We're a team, and we all play together."

As hot as James was in the fourth, it was Davis who ultimately sealed the win with a crucial three-pointer and a free throw in the final minute.

"We encourage him, coaches encourage him, and we as his teammates encourage him to shoot that three," James said of Davis. "Making that shot was huge for us."

Davis finished with 31 points, marking his third consecutive 30-point game and tying a franchise record for the most consecutive 30-point outings to start a season alongside legends Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Kobe Bryant.

James had been relatively quiet in the Lakers' earlier victories against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns, scoring a total of 37 points in those games.

"Just when you think he's slowing down, he continues to show the world why he's the greatest," Davis remarked. "He looked to the bench, wanting to come out, but we told him, 'You're not coming out.' He then hit another three. He never ceases to amaze us with what he can do."

While every Lakers starter contributed at least 16 points, underscoring James' point about team dynamics, the squad embraced his fourth-quarter surge.

"What can you say?" Lakers coach JJ Redick said. "We've all been fortunate to witness his greatness for so long, and the fact that he can still perform at this level is just insane."

NEW YORK — After a disappointing season opener, the Knicks bounced back in a big way on Friday, overpowering the Indiana Pacers 123-98 in Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges' home debut at Madison Square Garden.

"Whenever you get your butt kicked on national TV, it means you have to step it up," said Josh Hart, one of four Knicks starters scoring 20 or more points against Indiana. Towns and Bridges each scored 21, while Jalen Brunson led with 26 points.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau praised the team's response: "The fight we showed was a lot greater."

This win was especially gratifying for the Knicks as they sought redemption not only from the Celtics defeat but also from last season's Game 7 loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks' defensive turnaround was notable, especially after struggling against the perimeter in Boston. They held Indiana, the second-best offense last season, to just 3-of-30 from beyond the arc. Tyrese Haliburton, a key Pacers player, was held scoreless on eight attempts.

Bridges and Hart took turns defending Haliburton, while the Knicks capitalized on Indiana's 16 turnovers, scoring 29 points off those mistakes.

The Garden crowd was electric from the start, rallying behind Towns and Bridges. The game was effectively decided midway through the third quarter when the Knicks surged ahead by 30 points. Despite the lopsided score, the crowd remained lively, energized by the New York Yankees' Game 1 of the World Series.

A massive "Let's Go Yankees!" chant erupted in the fourth quarter after Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer, and Towns joined in, waving his towel enthusiastically as he watched the action unfold on the jumbotron.

"Oh, I was looking up at the jumbotron for sure," said Towns, a devoted Yankees fan, who watched the game closely during his postgame interview.