THE Phoenix Suns got their first exhibition victory with a 117-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday in a rare weekday matinee start.

Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 11 rebounds to help the Suns even their exhibition record at 1-1. Mikal Bridges scored 15 points and Jae Crowder had 13 points and nine rebounds.

Devin Booker rested for Phoenix. Chris Paul had eight points and 11 assists in his preseason debut and the Suns got a strong effort from their bench. Cam Johnson scored 13 points and newcomer JaVale McGee provided 12 points in 14 minutes. Cameron Payne had 11 points and five assists.

The Suns beat the Lakers in the first round of last season’s playoffs, winning three straight games after falling into a 2-1 deficit. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were battling injuries in that series and Los Angeles still wasn’t at full strength Wednesday.

James and Russell Westbrook sat out their second straight game, though Carmelo Anthony made his Lakers debut and scored eight points in 17 minutes. Davis had 14 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes.

Malik Monk scored 18 points off the bench for the Lakers (0-2). Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn each added 11.

Trevor Ariza also sat out again and the Lakers announced after the game the veteran forward had an arthroscopic procedure on his right ankle and will be evaluated in about eight weeks.

In Dallas, Luka Doncic had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists in just 19 minutes of his preseason debut and the Dallas Mavericks won their opener 111-101 over the Utah Jazz under new coach Jason Kidd.

Rookie Jared Butler scored 22 points for the Jazz, who rested Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.(SD-Agencies)