Mike D’Antoni wins L.A. Lakers coaching debut

Lakers 95, Nets 90

In the first half of Tuesday’s game, the Nets scored at will on the Lakers in Mike D’Antoni’s debut. I’m sure we could knock you over with a feather duster. But L.A.‘s defense tightening to the second half, holding Brooklyn to 32 percent shooting from the floor and 1-13 half from long-range (after the Nets shot 6-10 on bombs in the first two quarters). Dwight Howard set about denying Brook Lopez good looks after halftime -- the center had 17 points on 13 shooting possessions in the first half and six on six in the second. Howard himself had 23 points and 15 rebounds while going 7-19 from the line.

Knicks 102, Hornets 80

The Hornets were without Anthony Davis, who is day-to-day with a stress reaction. (I write that as if I have any clue what is actually means.) The Hornets stuck with the Knicks in the first half, and even led at a few points. But New York went about crushing New Orleans after halftime, running up a 30-16 third quarter win. Carmelo Anthony had 29 points in 28 minutes, including 19 in the first quarter. Austin Rivers was quite nice with 14 points, four assists and no turnovers.

Both teams struggled from the field in the third quarter, with the Lakers outscoring the Nets 20-16 to pull ahead, 76-73, heading into the fourth.

Nets head coach Avery Johnson employed the Hack-a-Howard tactic for much of the second half and it almost worked, as the Lakers big man shot an abysmal 7-of-19 from the line.

The Knicks sprinted out to an early lead, outscoring the Hornets 29-17 in the first quarter. Anthony, who finished the night with 29 points and six rebounds, came out firing for the Knicks, and scored 20 points in the first quarter alone.

Out of the locker room, however, the Knicks were back in control as New York pulled away and didn’t look back, outscoring the Hornets by 14 in the third quarter and three in the fourth to close out the victory.

Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was expected to play in New Orleans’ Tuesday night contest against the 7-1 Knicks as recently as Monday, but did not feel well enough on Tuesday to play.

Through his first six games in his NBA career, Davis is averaging 16 points per game, to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. New Orleans’ rookie forward missed two games earlier this season with a concussion.

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D’Antoni has stayed off the sidelines due to the combination of pain, fatigue and medication draining him of the strength needed to go through an NBA game. There was also a concern of his ability to move out of the way just in case players came barreling into his direction.