Today at 2:30 on ABC, the Los Angeles Lakers (24-27) visit the AmericanAirlines Arena to take on the defending champion Miami Heat (33-14). The Lakers have had an up and down season, and have won one straight. They had a 20 point third quarter deficit erased on Friday night to down the Charlotte Bobcats, 100-93. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers in that game with 20 points. He also had seven rebounds and eight assists. Kobe has been a facilitator lately. In a four game stretch that were all wins, Bryant had 48 assists in four games. He still leads LA with 27.4 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Heat enter this Sunday Showcase on a four game win streak that started in Toronto back on Sunday. Their latest win was a 111-89 blowout win at home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night in which Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Chauncy Billups all returned from injuries. LeBron James, the reigning MVP and is headed to the All-Star game next week, finished with a game high 30 points in the win despite both Ray Allen and Chris Bosh being out with the flu. James leads Miami with an average of 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists each game. Amid all the distractions surrounding the Lakers, I think the Heat will play lights out and come out with a very convincing victory to make it five in a row.
Los Angeles Game Notes
Miami Game Notes
