|
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade put on a show on Wednesday to help Miami Heat hold off the depleted but dogged Los Angeles Lakers for a 101-95 Christmas NBA victory. |
The two-time defending champion Heat were heavy favourites in the holiday matchup against a Lakers team beset by injuries—including the broken bone in superstar Kobe Bryant’s left knee.
Bryant’s absence robbed the contest of some of its marquee value, but the 35-year-old star said before the game that he had every confidence he’d be back this season. “The spirits are fine,” said Bryant, who had played in just six games this season after returning from a torn left Achilles tendon suffered last April.
The Lakers, losers of their last two contests, managed to stick with the Heat for much of the game, which was tied 83-83 with 8:25 remaining. But the Heat authored a 9-0 scoring run to take control for good.
“You can’t ever underestimate teams like that, that have been counted out because of all the injuries but have found a way to win,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That shows a grittiness, that you’re going to have to earn it.”
Wade and Chris Bosh both scored 23 points for the Heat. Wade added seven assists and six rebounds and Bosh pulled down 11 rebounds.
James’s 19 points were relatively modest by his standards, but included a couple of thrilling alley-oop dunks with assists from Wade. The first, with 3:54 remaining in the opening quarter, saw Wade toss a no-look pass to a charging James who slammed it home with his right hand.
Even more dazzling was their combination that began with Wade’s one-handed pass off the backboard that a flying James snagged with his left hand and thrust through the basket.
“I was just trying to chase it down,” James said. “I had no idea what he was going to do. It went off the glass and the only way I could get it was with my left hand.”
James might have been inspired by his young sons — 6-year-old Bryce and 9-year-old Bronny. He posted Instagram video Wednesday morning of the boys combining for an ally-oop dunk on a toy hoop in their Los Angeles hotel.
While James made the road trip a family affair, the Heat were disappointed that their status as defending champions hadn’t earned them a home game on the holiday. “We talked to the league about that already,” Wade said.