Heat Vs. Lakers, NBA Christmas Day: LeBron James’ Triple Double Leads Miami To 96-80 Rout

There was some worry that the Miami Heat would flop in their big game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, thanks to previous performances against elite teams like the Boston Celtics that were less inspired and coherent. Today, though, the Heat look like the dream team that danced in fans’ heads this summer when LeBron James and Chris Bosh decided to join Dwyane Wade in Miami.

The three All-Stars have combined for 59 of the Heat’s 75 points, and keyed Miami to a 75-64 lead at the end of the third quarter at the Staples Center. None of the three players has fewer than 18 points, which is more than any Lakers player has, but it is James that is playing especially well: he’s made seven of 12 shots, nailed five three-pointers, leads all scorers with 21 points, and is very close to a triple-double thanks to his nine rebounds and eight assists.

The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a fast start with two Lamar Odom dunks. Since then, though, this Christmas Day headliner has been dominated by the Miami Heat. They lead 20-14 after the first quarter, dominating the Lakers on the defensive end.

The Lakers are shooting just 6-25 thus far, good for just 24 percent from the field. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, the team’s two stars, have missed all 11 of their field goal attempts and have yet to even score in the game. Only four Lakers have actually scored in the game -- Odom with five, Andrew Bynum with four, Derek Fisher with three and Matt Barnes with two.

It’s now official: Dwyane Wade will be in the lineup for the Miami Heat as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the marquee NBA Christmas Day game. Wade missed the Heat’s game on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns with a left knee injury, but is ready to go for this game.

Via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The NBA’s premier Christmas Day matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat will have the entire cast of characters healthy and playing. Miami star Dwyane Wade will play in the game despite missing last Thursday’s game against the Phoenix Suns with a left knee injury.

Via Brian Windhorst of ESPN:

The NBA has done everything they can to market the Christmas Day showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. They want you to believe it’s a titanic matchup between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, the champions and the media darlings, the interior stars and the high-flying talents of James and Dwyane Wade.

But at the end of the day, it’s really just one game out of 82. It may be occurring in primetime on a holiday, but it’s still a regular-season game. As SB Nation’s Heat blog Peninsula is Mightier writes: