Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers Say Peace to Miami Heat with 93-83 Victory
"When he puts the ball on the floor, the help will come," said Coach Erik Spoelstra at the end of the first quarter.
The Black Mamba had lit up the Miami Heat for 16 points in the first period, and he was looking to leave his mark on the scorching hot South Beach superstars.
And while the help did cause him to miss six of his next eight shots (8-for-9 in first quarter), the Mamba came back furious in the fourth quarter.
Kobe Bryant posted his third straight 30-point game, mask and all, dropping 33 (14-23 FG) points, nine coming in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter, to lead his Los Angeles Lakers to a 93-83 home win over the short-handed Miami Heat Sunday afternoon.
Knocking down countless contested jumpers, Bryant dropped dagger after dagger into the Miami morale, keeping the Lakers up by double digits for the majority of the afternoon.
LeBron James stuffed the stat sheet, as usual, putting up 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists along with three steals and two blocks. Dwyane Wade, who fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, added in16 points and five assists, but the absence of PF Chris Bosh proved to be a key loss of production.
Bosh hasn't played since the All-Star break, grieving the loss of his grandmother.
An unlikely hero for the L.A. Lakers, Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) shattered his season averages, dropping 17 points, seven rebounds and a game-high four steals. He also shot 2-for-4 from downtown, posting back-to-back double-digit scoring games for the first time since Dec. 27th.
Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum combined for 27 points, 23 rebounds and five blocks, but Gasol showed grit at the end of the third quarter, displaying a toughness that the Lakers have so desperately sought.
The Los Angeles Lakers have advanced to 23-14, third in the West behind San Antonio and Oklahoma City.
Miami, now riding a two-game skid following their last-second loss to Utah, are 28-9, second in the East behind only the Chicago Bulls.
