After three consecutive losses to open the season, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton held a meeting to try and get the team refocused, and it paid dividends on Wednesday night.

The Lakers crushed the Phoenix Suns 131-113 to win their first game in the LeBron James era. After the game, guard Lance Stephenson credited Walton for firing up the team and leading them to their first win of 2018-19.

"We could feel his anger," Stephenson said, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin "We had to get that W."

Per McMenamin, the meeting took place on Wednesday morning, and Walton specifically ripped the team's effort on defense. The Lakers had allowed 124 points or more in their first three games. That's not acceptable in the NBA, especially when a player of James' caliber is on your team.

Granted, the Lakers might not be too happy about allowing 113 points to a rebuilding Suns team. But the offense was more crisp and sharp, and LA didn't rely on James' as much in this one.

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Stephenson led the Lakers in points (23), and rebounds (eight), while adding eight assists. James had 19 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Center JaVale McGee added 20 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Through the first four games of the season, the Lakers own the NBA's worst defense. They're allowing 127 points per game, per ESPN.com. Teams are shooting .483 percent from the field against the Lakers, too.

But James has maintained that it's a "process" for the young Lakers, and he knows they're not on the same level as the Golden State Warriors right now. For Los Angeles, simply making the playoffs will be good enough.

That won't happen in a stacked Western Conference if the Laker defense continues to be this miserable. But Wednesday's victory over the Suns is a good start, as LeBron and co. try to find their groove.

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