LOS ANGELES — Dwight Howard scored 28 points, Kobe Bryant had 15 points and eight assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers finally got their first victory of the season, 108-79 over the winless Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Metta World Peace scored 18 points and Pau Gasol scored 14 for the Lakers, who went 0-8 in the preseason and started the regular season 0-3 for just the fourth time in franchise history.

The Lakers' growing worries about their new offense and their roster's durability vanished for a day against the struggling Pistons, who never led.

Steve Nash missed his second game with a small fracture in his left leg.

Los Angeles took a 28-point lead in the first half and stretched it to 36 points in the third quarter, with Howard dominating the paint and Bryant slipping easily into a playmaking role in the injured Nash's absence.

Howard excelled in the paint against Greg Monroe, making 12 of 14 shots.

Notes

• Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points, JR Smith had 20, and the host New York Knicks rode another big three-point shooting night to a 100-84 victory over Philadelphia in the opener of home-and-home series.

Jason Kidd had 12 points and six assists, and Raymond Felton had 11 points for the Knicks (2-0), who followed their 19 three-pointers in a season-opening victory over Miami by making 11.

Jrue Holiday had 27 points and seven assists for the 76ers (1-1).

• Al Horford had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Lou Williams had 10 of his 19 points during Atlanta's decisive fourth-quarter surge and the Hawks beat host Oklahoma City 104-95.

Kevin Martin scored 28 points off the bench to lead the Thunder and Kevin Durant had 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

• Jason Levien, a former co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, has agreed to become the chief executive officer and managing partner for the new group that just took over the Memphis Grizzlies.