Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Which Team is First to 30 Wins?

Forget the Celtics, Mavericks, and Spurs. Between the Miami Heat (18-8) and Los Angeles Lakers (18-7), which team will get to 30 wins first?

The Heat are sizzling with a current nine-game winning streak while the Lakers have won five of six and now return center Andrew Bynum.

Will he be enough to lift the defending champions past the thriving Heat?

Let's break it down, game by game. 

Dec.15, 2010: Cavaliers at Heat, Lakers at Pacers

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CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 02: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat hugs Jawad Williams after a 118-90 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on December 2, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

Cavaliers at Heat: Cleveland's lack of talent is too much to overcome in this uphill battle in Miami.

Heat win and move to 19-8

Lakers at Pacers: This won't be as easy as many anticipate. The Pacers have been a surprise team this year with their motion offense that relies heavily on constant screens, both on and off the ball. 

Lakers win and move to 19-7

Dec. 17, 2010: Heat at Knicks, Lakers at Sixers

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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 22: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives past Quentin Richardson #23 of the New York Knicks on February 22, 2006 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Heat defeated the Knicks 103-83. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowl

Heat at Knicks: The Knicks have gotten a lot better but are no match for the Heat.

Heat win and move to 20-8

Lakers at Sixers: Kobe goes off as Philadelphia just doesn't have the firepower.

Lakers win and move to 20-7

Dec. 18, 2010: Heat at Wizards

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NEW YORK - JUNE 24: John Wall of Kentucky stands with NBA Commisioner David Stern after being drafted with the first pick by the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and

Heat at Wizards: A John Wall matchup with the Heat's three monsters will be exciting...for Miami fans. 

Heat win and move to 21-8

Lakers off: 20-7

December 19, 2010: Lakers at Raptors

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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 5: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers controls the ball against Amir Johnson #15 of the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center on November 5, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 108-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Lakers at Raptors: Toronto couldn't beat this team without Kobe Bryant. 

Lakers win and move to 21-7 (five-game win streak).

Heat off: 21-8

December 20, 2010: Mavericks at Heat

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DALLAS - NOVEMBER 27: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots over Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat on November 27, 2010 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading an

Mavericks at Heat: Miami knows it won't be taken seriously until it beats the Spurs, Mavericks, Celtics, or Lakers. This is a statement game on its home turf. 

Heat win and move to 22-8 (13-game win streak)

Lakers off: 21-7

Dec. 21, 2010: Bucks at Lakers

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MILWAUKEE - NOVEMBER 16: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for shot against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on November 16, 2010 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Lakers defeated the Bucks 118-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowled

Bucks at Lakers: The Bucks are such a hot and cold team, they're very difficult to project. By now Bynum will either have made this team lethal or injured himself again. 

Lakers win and move to 22-7 (Six-game win streak)

Miami off: 22-8

Dec. 23, 2010: Heat at Suns

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MIAMI - NOVEMBER 17: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat passes the ball over Steve Nash #13 during a game against the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Arena on November 17, 2010 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

Heat at Suns: Phoenix matched up horribly with Miami as witnessed in their last matchup. Unless Steve Nash goes off for 40, this will have the same result.

Heat win and move to 23-8 (14-game win streak)

Lakers off: 22-7

Dec. 25, 2010: Heat at Lakers

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 04: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball in front of Ron Artest #37 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Staples Center on December 4, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowled

Heat at Lakers: Christmas is here and so is the much anticipated Heat-Lakers matchup at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. No doubt this one will have a playoff feel.

It's the first time the new-look Heat faces the defending champs. L.A. needs this win more than Miami.

Lakers win and move to 23-7 (Seven-game win streak)

Heat move to 23-9 and their streak ends at 14. 

Dec. 28, 2010: Knicks at Heat, Lakers at Spurs

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 29: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs moves around Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on May 29, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California

Knicks at Heat: Miami plays well against the small-ball teams and will beat the Knicks for the second time in days. 

Heat win and move to 24-9

Lakers at Spurs: The Spurs are the best team in basketball right now. Can their aging team keep it up?

Lakers lose and move to 23-8

Dec. 29, 2010: Heat at Rockets, Lakers at Hornets

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 01: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a layup in front of Devin Brown #23 and David West #30 and Darren Collison #2 of the New Orleans Hornets during the first half at Staples Center on December 1, 2009 in Los

Heat at Rockets: The odds are Yao won't be playing in this matchup. The guy is made of glass. 

Heat win and move to 25-9

Lakers at Hornets: CP3 versus Kobe is always a fun matchup. Too bad David West won't be able to get anything inside in this one. 

Lakers win and move to 24-8

Jan. 1, 2011: Warriors at Heat

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 10: Reggie Williams #55 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a dunk against Lebron James #6 of the Miami Heat at Oracle Arena on December 10, 2010 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees tha

Warriors at Heat: Even with Stephen Curry, the Warriors have no way of limiting LeBron or Wade. This will be exciting but will end badly for Golden State. 

Heat win and move to 26-9

Lakers off: 24-8

Jan. 2, 2011: Grizzlies at Lakers

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 02: A Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader performs against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on November 2, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies 124-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges

Grizzlies at Lakers: The Gasol brothers square off in what will be a battle. Memphis has the talent to win it but will come up short. 

Lakers win and move to 25-8

Heat off: 26-9

Jan. 3, 2011: Heat at Bobcats

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 11: Gerald Wallace #3 of the Charlotte Bobcats against the Boston Celtics during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 11, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

Heat at Bobcats: Both Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson would be excellent third options on a contender, but with those two as your best players, it's weak. And then you consider who the Bobcats have after them and this team is very unlikely to make the playoffs. 

Heat win and move to 27-9

Lakers off: 25-8

Jan. 4, 2011: Bucks at Heat, Pistons at Lakers

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MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 06: Andrew Bogut #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks moves against Zydrunas Ilgauskas #11 of the Miami Heat at the Bradley Center on December 6, 2010 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Heat defeated the Bucks 88-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly a

Bucks at Heat: Miami wins this one before traveling to Milwaukee two days later.

Miami wins and moves to 28-9

Pistons at Lakers: Detroit is in the worst shape of any team in basketball. Not only are they bad, but they have terrible contracts and older players.

Lakers win and moves to 26-8

Jan. 5, 2011: Lakers at Suns

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 10: Steve Nash #13 and Goran Dragic #2 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center on December 10, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Trail Blazers defeated the Suns 101-94. NOTE TO USER:

Lakers at Suns: There is a small chance Nash is out of Phoenix by this time. Still, the Suns are no match for the Lakers, which should be hitting their stride now. 

Lakers win and move to 27-8

Heat off: 28-9

Jan. 7, 2011: Heat at Bucks, Hornets at Lakers

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a dunk against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 10, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and

Heat at Bucks: It's tough to beat a team back-to-back, especially with the second game on the loser's home floor. But with the Heat rolling, a less-than-stellar Bucks squad won't prevail. 

Heat win and move to 29-9

Hornets at Lakers: Chris Paul is good enough to lead the overmatched Hornets to a win against this team at one point. 

Lakers lose and move to 27-9

Jan. 9, 2011: Heat at Blazers, Lakers at Knicks

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CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 02: LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat talks to Dwyane Wade #3 while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on December 2, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by down

Heat at Blazers: If only they had Greg Oden alive. He would have made this team a contender. But no Oden means no prayer for the Blazers. 

Heat win and reach 30!

Record: 30-9

Lakers at Knicks: Lakers win and reach 28-9. Looking ahead, they would probably win their next two games with Cleveland and Golden State, putting them at 30-9 as well. 

Both the Heat and Lakers will win 30 of their first 39 games in the 2010-11 NBA season. 

Ties do suck, but regardless of what anyone says, they're still better than kissing your sister. That is unless it's a stepsister, and she's really hot. 

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