The Miami Heat improved to 26-12 on the season with a 99-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined to score 66 points in the win.
Heat vs. Lakers final score: LeBron James leads Miami over L.A., 99-90
LeBron James scored 39 points and Dwyane Wade added 27 as the Miami Heat handed the Los Angeles Lakers a 99-90 loss.
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Miami jumped out to an early 26-22 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers came back and took a 45-44 lead at the half despite some early shooting struggles by Kobe Bryant. The Heat grabbed the lead in the second half, but a Bryant three with 2:33 remaining tied the game at 90-90. Miami then went on a 9-0 run to finish the game and capture the win.
Wade put the Heat back in front for good with a fall away jumper with 2:12 remaining. After two Dwight Howard misses at the line, Ray Allen extended the lead to 94-90 with a jumper in the lane. James put the icing on the cake with a pull up jumper that made the score 96-90 with just 49 seconds remaining.
James finished the game with 39 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Wade added 27 points for the Heat, who made 48 percent of their shots from the floor. Bryant got hot in the fourth and finished with 22 points, but was just 8 of 25 in the game. Metta World Peace added 16 points while Dwight Howard chipped in 13 points and 16 rebounds.
The win puts Miami a full game in front of the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference standings. Los Angeles has its two game winning streak snapped and falls to 17-22 on the season.
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