The Miami Heat finished their six-game road trip with a 99-90 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Thursday night. The Heat were 3-3 on the road in the last ten days. Teams led by LeBron James now have a 12-6 all-time regular season record against squads led by Kobe Bryant.
Miami(26-12) showed off to the L.A. crowd as they powered through with an 8-2 edge on four dunks in the first four minutes of the game. Los Angeles(17-22) took a brief lead on a 11-4 spurt to make it 13-12 at 4:23, but the Heat led 26-22 after one quarter. LeBron James had 12 points and Dwyane Wade dropped 10 points in the opening quarter for Miami. The Lakers retook the lead late in the second quarter and were ahead 45-44 at halftime.
The Heat concluded the third quarter with a 9-2 rally and led 73-65 after three quarters. Miami was up by nine points 78-69 with 9:49 left the fourth quarter, but L.A. bounced back on a 14-3 run to regain the lead 83-81 at 6:33. Neither team were ahead by more than five points until the final minute. The score was tied at 90-90 with 2:32 remaining, then Miami scored nine straight points and held the Lakers scoreless down the stretch to cap the contest 99-90.
James carried the Heat with 39 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in 42 minutes of play while Wade, who celebrated his 31st birthday, had 27 points and five assists in 38 minutes. Chris Bosh contributed seven points, six rebounds and six steals in 35 minutes. Ray Allen hit nine points in 31 minutes.
Bryant, who had just four points at halftime, knocked down 22 points in 43 minutes for Los Angeles. Dwight Howard played Miami for the first time not in an Orlando Magic uniform as he picked up a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds in 38 minutes. Metta World Peace added in 16 points in 37 minutes and Lakers reserve Pau Gasol sank 12 points in 25 minutes.
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