Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers 11/20/12: Video Highlights and Recap

Mike D'Antoni's coaching tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers started off on the right foot Tuesday night with his team beating the Brooklyn Nets 95-90.

The game was hard-fought into the fourth quarter, but a 17-6 run by the Lakers to close the game put things out of reach.

Los Angeles was led by 20-plus point efforts from Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. Howard also collected 15 rebounds and blocked four shots.

Brook Lopez and Deron Williams tried to keep the Nets in it, scoring 23 and 22 points respectively, but didn't receive enough support from the rest of the team to make that happen.

Winning was the key Tuesday night more than any other night. D'Antoni's debut needed to end well, and it did. For the time being, he can rest easy in Tinseltown.

For a complete look at the box score, check out NBA.com.

Player of the Game: Dwight Howard

Howard's double-double paced the Lakers on both ends of the floor. Blocking four shots didn't hurt either.

Because of his athleticism, Howard can change games in an instant. He's a devastating defender, and the effort was there on Tuesday night.

D'Antoni needs Howard to control the paint, and he did that in a tightly contested win over the Nets.

What's Next for the Brooklyn Nets?

The 6-3 Brooklyn Nets will travel north to face the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

What's Next for the Los Angeles Lakers?

The 6-5 Los Angeles Lakers will travel within California to face the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.