LOS ANGELES – LeBron James notched a triple-double and star-studded Miami shone in the NBA’s Christmas Day spotlight Saturday with a 96-80 victory over the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
James scored 27 points with 10 assists and 11 rebounds for the 31st triple-double of his career and his third since his move as a free agent to Miami prior to this season.
Chris Bosh added 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat and Dwyane Wade chipped in 18 points despite being slowed by a sore knee.
Even more importantly, the Heat pressured and harried the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers, preventing them from finding any offensive rhythm.
“That’s Miami Heat basketball,” James said. “We just try to go out and defend. We know that’s going to give us the best chance to win. When we’re in tune like that defensively — five guys on a string, we’re all helping each other out — we’re a pretty good team.”
James played a controlled game, despite receiving a technical foul shortly before halftime as he jockeyed for position under the basket with Los Angeles’ Ron Artest, who also received a technical.
His demeanor reflected the poise of the entire Heat team, who led 20-14 after a first quarter in which they held both Bryant and Pau Gasol without a field goal.
“The most important thing, I think we really got to our identity, defending and disrupting as much as we could,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team improved to 23-9. “It got us into a rhythm offensively.
“Even though we only had four fast-break points a lot of our opportunities were in early offense and our confidence just seemed to grow when we were able to get consecutive stops and rebound the basketball.”
It was the first meeting between the two teams since James, Wade and Bosh elected to link up in Miami as free agents, forming a superstar trio that immediately had the Heat tabbed as title contenders.
James and Bryant had both said the much publicized holiday match-up was just one more contest in the long NBA regular season.
But at the end of the game the two could be seen exchanging words on the court.
“We’re just two competitors, two guys just trying to will their team to victory,” James said.
Bryant, who was unhappy with his own teammates by the end, said sourly: “I just asked him what he got for Christmas.”
Bryant and Gasol scored 17 points each for the Lakers. Lamar Odom added 14 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, who have lost two in a row at home after Tuesday’s upset against Milwaukee.
Bryant made it clear he believes some of his teammates aren’t playing with enough urgency and focus as they pursue a third straight championship. The Lakers own a 21-9 record, but haven’t impressed against opponents with winning records.
“The game has to be the most important thing,” Bryant said. “You have to focus on it. You have to play every game like it’s your last. You have to be attentive to what’s going on.
“You don’t just have two rings and say ‘OK, we’re satisfied with what we’ve got.’
“I’m not rolling with that,” Bryant said. “I’m not going to let that slide. We need to get into gear.”
