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LOS ANGELES -- Julius Randle refused to back down from Tyson Chandler, and both big men got technical fouls for trash talking. Moments later, the crowd rose to its feet when Randle got the ball against Chandler on the perimeter in the closing minutes.Instead of forcing a confrontation, Randle fed Jordan Clarkson for a decisive 3-pointer.The Los Angeles Lakers are young and headstrong, but theyre learning all the time.And for just the second time in three years, theyre a winning team.Nick Young scored 22 points, Clarkson added 18 and the Lakers moved above .500 with their third straight victory, 119-108 over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.Two days after their stunning upset of Golden State, the Lakers (4-3) held off the Suns down the stretch despite Devin Bookers career-high 39 points. Randle also scored 18 for the Lakers and assisted on that 3 by Clarkson with 1:27 left to seal it.The fact he did what he did was such a winning play on his part, Los Angeles coach Luke Walton said. Unselfish. Its everything we want. Its him using his brain, him being competitive, him fighting for the team.After three seasons of gradually increasing misery, the Lakers are young, fun and improving. Theyre also unbeaten at home, winning three straight games at Staples Center for the first time since April 2013.Were doing things the right way, and were starting to see some success, Randle said. We easily could have given up the lead, but we kept fighting. ... Thats just my game. I dont back down from anybody. Im not afraid of nobody.Other than its season-opening victory last month, Los Angeles hadnt had a winning record since the franchise was 10-9 on Dec. 6, 2013. The three worst seasons in team history followed, but Waltons new Lakers are already injecting optimism into their huge fan base with up-tempo excitement and a quick start to the season.Booker scored 29 in the second half while setting a career high for the second straight game. T.J. Warren had 22 points and Eric Bledsoe added 19 for Phoenix, which started slowly two days after a road game in New Orleans.Theyre a good team in transition, and we knew that coming in, said Booker, who also had seven assists. We had some mental breakdowns, and they took advantage of it.BOOK MAKINGBooker followed up his 38-point game against the Pelicans on Friday with another beauty. After missing nine of his 12 first-half shots, the 20-year-old heated up with a series of high-difficulty buckets while Phoenix trimmed the Lakers lead.Doesnt matter, Booker said. Its another game, especially if we lose. If we get a win, Im more excited about it. Everybody looks good when you win, and thats what were trying to do. Scoring as many points as you want and not making the playoffs isnt a good look.Booker outscored DAngelo Russell, his fellow second-year NBA guard, but Russell had 11 points -- eight in the fourth quarter -- and six assists.UNCLE P DELIVERSYoungs strong game included a four-point play with 4:19 left. Even the Suns have taken notice of the veteran guard, whose Lakers career appeared to be over last summer. We knew Nick has been playing well all season, Phoenix coach Earl Watson said. Hes done a really good job turning his game around.NANCE INJUREDLakers F Larry Nance Jr. has a concussion after a first-quarter tumble. Nance was undercut by P.J. Tucker while they scrambled for a loose ball near midcourt. Nance didnt return, and he must miss Tuesdays game against Dallas as well, according to the NBAs concussion protocol. Nance is a valuable reserve in his second NBA season, averaging 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.TIP-INSLos Angeles bench outscored the Suns reserves 47-9. ... Timofey Mozgov added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers. ... Lakers fan Travis Milne hit a half-court shot before the fourth quarter to win $35,000. Several Lakers high-fived Milne, who pointed at his forearm in an imitation of Russells famed Ice In My Veins celebration of big shots. Russell didnt see the homage, but was visibly pleased to hear about it after the game.UP NEXTSuns: At Portland on Tuesday.Lakers: Host Dallas on Tuesday.C.J. McCollum Jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Terry Porter Blazers Jersey . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Brandon-Roy-Blazers-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- St. Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Anfernee Simons Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers.HOUSTON -- No. 13 Houston was coming off of its first loss and the Cougars were close to making it two in a row with Tulsa driving in a tie game late in the fourth quarter on Saturday night.It was then that Houstons defense responded with two huge plays to give the Cougars a 38-31 victory .The game was tied at 31-31 when Emeke Egbule returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown with 1:21 remaining. Garrett Davis knocked the ball out of the hands of quarterback Dane Evans. Egbule scooped it up and dashed into the end zone for the score.I just knew I had to do something with it to keep us in the game, Egbule said.Tulsa (4-2, 1-1 American) had a chance to tie it, but Jesse Brubaker was stopped just short of the goal line after a reception on the last play of the game to seal Houstons victory. The play was reviewed and upheld.He was really close ... I dont think you can get any closer than what it was, Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said.It was a close call for the Cougars (6-1, 3-1) a week after Navy beat them 46-40 after a 5-0 start.We got the taste out of our mouth, Houston coach Tom Herman said.Tulsa never led, but had twice rallied from 14-point deficits to tie the game. The second time came when James Flanders scored on a 3-yard run with 3:31 left.This is one of those games thats tough to swallow, Montgomery said. It really didnt feel like we lost the football game, it felt like we just ran out of time.The Golden Hurricane forced a punt after that, but the fumble by Evans came two plays later.Houstons Dillon Birden ran for 82 yards and three touchdowns playing in place of starter Duke Catalon, who missed his third straight gamme with a concussion.ddddddddddddHerman thought this game was another good reminder for his players that they cant take any team lightly.Youre going to get their best shot. Youve earned that, he said. Everybody on your schedule is going to play you with their `A game. Weve got to understand that and understand that even when were up 17-3 we cant take our foot off the gas.THE TAKEAWAYTULSA: The Golden Hurricane ran out of late-game magic after overcoming a 31-point deficit, which was the largest in school history, to beat Fresno State 48-41 in double overtime two weeks ago before getting a 43-40 win over SMU in overtime last week.HOUSTON: The Cougars need to start playing more like the team that beat Oklahoma instead of the mistake-prone team that lost to Navy last week and struggled this week to get into the conference title game.POLL IMPLICATIONSHOUSTON: The Cougars could move up a couple of spots after No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 9 Tennessee and 12th-ranked Mississippi all lost on Saturday. However, some poll voters might penalize Houston for struggling against an unranked team.EDS EFFORT: Freshman defensive tackle Ed Oliver had another big game for the Cougars, piling up a season-high 12 tackles after finishing with 11 last week. He also batted down two passes to give him five for the season, had two tackles for losses and a quarterback hit.UP NEXTTULSA: The Golden Hurricane host Tulane next Saturday.HOUSTON: The Cougars visit SMU next Saturday.---More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '