Heat vs. Lakers: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More
As long as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are there, the Miami Heat vs. the Los Angeles Lakers will be a huge game. Add in the world's most famous broken nose, and we have another attraction.
20 years from now when people look at the images from this game, they'll be asking, "What is that thing on Kobe's face?"
Expect to see Bryant don the mask he has to wear to protect his healing nose, after Dwyane Wade delivered an accidental, but nasty foul to Bryant in the All-Star Game.
Wade has apologized profusely since, but we all know, it's still a story. This will be the first time the two teams have met since that incident.
Besides that, these two teams are pretty good, by the way. The Heat are coming off a heartbreaking loss at Utah on Friday night, but they still have the third-best record in the NBA at 28-8.
As trade rumors swirl around the Lakers, they are maintaining a strong presence in the Western Conference. They trail the Clippers in the Pacific Division by mere percentage points, and the last 30 some odd games of the regular season should be exciting for both teams.
L.A. has won two in a row, while Miami had won nine in a row before their stumble in Utah. Let's take a closer look at this marquee matchup.
Where: Staples Center, Inglewood, CA
When: Sunday, Mar. 4th at 3:30 p.m. EDT
Watch: ABC
Listen: KSPN 710 - LA Lakers, WAXY 790 AM—Miami
Betting Line: Miami minus-3
Live Stream: NBA League Pass
Key Injuries
Miami: Chris Bosh (out)
Los Angeles: No injuries to report
What's At Stake?
This is a huge game whether the players admit it or not. The Lakers want to win this game to prove they are amongst the elite. The Heat do not want to fall into a losing streak after having such a solid February.
The Heat had won nine in a row, but the loss to the Utah Jazz was a bit demoralizing. They would love to rebound from this with a quality road win over the Lakers.
You can also bet that Kobe Bryant wants some revenge on Wade for the hard foul, no matter what he says.
What They're Saying
Kobe says he is without rival. Well, not in the sense that there is no one else on his level, more in the sense that there is no one he feels special about competing against. Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com quoted Bryant after he was asked if he had a rivalry with LeBron James.
"Not for me," Bryant said. "I get up for everybody just the same, to be honest. It's hard for me to turn my meter up any higher than it normally is."
Some players would say that and I wouldn't believe them, but Bryant is such an insane competitor, I truly believe he competes just as hard against any player.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about Kobe Bryant's play this season considering his wrist injury and overall health. He is quoted by Tim Reynolds of Huffington Post with this:
"He looks healthier and quicker than he did last year. I think everybody knew he wasn't 100 percent last year. He was just grinding through it and the lockout was probably beneficial for him, the extra time but also he was able to get stronger. He looks very lean. He looks in great shape.
"
Bryant has been spectacular all season, even during his little selfish period that produced the consecutive 40-point performances in January. Bryant seems to have been on a personal mission to prove he is still amongst the NBA's elite.
Miami Player To Watch: LeBron James
LeBron seemed especially distraught after the loss to the Jazz. It will be interesting to see how he responds. One has to wonder if he regrets not taking that shot against the Utah Jazz. With the game on the line, LeBron made the correct basketball play by passing to an open Udonis Haslem for a 17-foot jump shot.
Haslem normally makes that shot, but he missed it on Friday night.
That will be yet another moment LeBron haters latch onto as fuel to continue their disdain for him.
Truth be told, James has been as good this year as he's ever been in his Hall of Fame career. He is averaging 28 points, seven rebounds and eight assists while shooting 55 percent from the field.
Ladies and gentleman, he's a small forward, not a center or a power forward, which is pretty impressive.
L.A. Lakers Player To Watch: Pau Gasol
Gasol's name has been the subject of much trade talk. He hasn't seemed to let it bother him lately. He is averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds over his past three games.
Still, this is perhaps the biggest regular-season game of the year, and it's on national television. Will he wilt under the pressure from the talks and the heat of the game (no pun intended) or rise to the occasion?
The Lakers need him desperately to play well in this game. Their biggest advantage is on the interior, as Andrew Bynum and Gasol will key this charge to take advantage of a undermanned and undersized Heat frontcourt.
Key Matchup
You guessed it: Wade vs. Bryant. This was a big matchup before the broken nose, so it'll be especially compelling now. I don't expect Bryant to seek retaliation, but I do expect them to go at each other hard. Both of them are marvelous on both ends of the floor, and the player who has the best game will likely lead his team to victory.
The Lakers have no answer for LeBron, and Miami has no answer for the Lakers' inside attack. This matchup is the only even one on the floor, thus it is key.
Prediction
Lakers 101, Heat 100
In a classic game, I think Kobe salts this one away on the free-throw line. There won't be any LeBron bashing, as he will have a huge game, but Bryant will get tons of help from his front line.
