Orlando, Fla. -- -- LeBron James scored 29 points and played particularly center in the second half as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit and beat the Orlando Magic 116-105 on Friday night.
Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel replaced starting center Dwight Howard with James at the start of the second half and the Lakers opened the third quarter at 20-2. He led Orlando 31-16 in the third, making 13 of 23 shots and 5 of 8 3-pointers in the frame.
"He is the most unique player in the history of the game," Vogel said of James. "We won a championship with him two years ago playing point guard, he's been the ball-handling wing all his career and he's been playing center for us. It's very remarkable, and for him in his career." To do so at this stage is even more remarkable."
Carmelo Anthony scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half and hit four 3-pointers, while Stanley Johnson added 11 points off the bench. It was the eighth time the 37-year-old Anthony scored at least 20 points this season.
One game off the bench in Wednesday's loss to Indiana in the fourth quarter, Russell Westbrook had 18 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. When Westbrook fed James to the alley in the fourth, chants of "M-V-P" broke out among the crowd for James.
"I was upset about not finishing (Wednesday's game) and I was more upset that we didn't win the game," Westbrook said. "I have been doing my job here from day one and doing everything that is asked of me. I want to continue doing this for the betterment of the team."
The Lakers ended a three-game losing streak in Houston by winning away for the first time since December 28. Friday's game was the start of a six-game, 11-night journey for the Lakers.
"We think the first game is always the hardest game on an East Coast road trip, and the first half is usually when you're trying to get your feet back on a long flight from LA," said James . We knew we could play much better in the second half.
Orlando lost for the fourth time in a row and for the 14th time in 15 games. The Magic led by 10 in the half at Philadelphia on Wednesday and eight at the break on Friday, but lost both games.
Rookie guard Jalen Suggs scored a career-best 22 points for the Magic, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 19. Mo Bamba, who scored a career-best 32 on Wednesday, had 11 points and eight rebounds on Friday.
The Magic dropped to an NBA-worst 2-17 at home. They have not won at the Amway Center since December 1 - a period of nine straight home defeats.
"They came up with a level of intensity to try and push it back up," said Magic coach Jamahal Mosley. "That's what happened when we were in Los Angeles."
James scored 18 points and Westbrook scored 12 in the first 24 minutes, but the Lakers got far less than anyone else in the rotation. Los Angeles led seven in the first quarter, but it gave the Magic 24 bench points in the opening half.
Tip-ins
Lakers: Vogel was praising Westbrook's willingness to adapt his game to fit in with his new teammates, saying "he will do whatever it takes to put the Lakers in a championship-winning position to ensure also necessary, he is ready to do." ... Vogel said there is still no fixed timetable for the return of Anthony Davis (a left knee sprain), who was on the bench Friday night.
Magic: Former Lakers and Magic great Shaquille O'Neill sits on the edge of the court. ... Former Magic standout Hedo Turkoglu also participated in the game. ... Carter returned after being ruled out of the last seven games with pain in his left hamstring. ... Mosley and assistant Nate Tibbetts approved of the NBA's health and safety protocols and returned to the bench after missing the last two games.
Next
Lakers: Play in Miami on Sunday night.
Magic: Host Chicago on Sunday Night.