The Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant upset the Miami Heat 93-83

Kobe puts forth his case, as to why Dwyane Wade has to wait a few more years before being labeled the best shooting guard in the game.

VIDEO: Heat And Lakers Get Into Shoving Match, Dwyane Wade Fouls Out Earl On Questionable Call

Kobe, Los Lakers Lead the Miami Heat at Halftime: 50-38

Much of the talk going into Sunday's game has been of revenge. But the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, have added a new word to the conversation: avenge. With their last loss to the Heat fresh on his mind, Bryant started the game 5 for 5, scoring on an array of mid range jumpers and fearless drives to the baskets. Bryant has 20 points at halftime, the only Laker in double figures.

Dwyane Wade, who was the focus of the media prior to the game for his hard foul in the All-Star game on Kobe Bryant (from which he suffered a broken nose and mild concussion), has largely struggled thus far. Wade has 8 points but on 3 for 10 shooting. Wade also seemed tentative to attack the basket; he took three 3-point shots, the most of any half this season.

Make no mistake about it, the first half hasn't wasn't entirely a tutorial for the Kobe System. The entire Lakers team came out with something to prove, hustling for rebounds, jockeying for loose balls, and playing an overall tough brand of basketball. Metta World Peace has 9 points and Andrew Bynum has 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Meanwhile, the Heat have failed to get any contributions from anybody not named Mario Chalmers and LeBron James. Chalmers has 9 points (all on 3-point shots) and LeBron leads the Heat with 12 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds.

Miami Heat Visit Los Angeles Lakers: Roster Report And Starting Lineups

Miami Heat:

Roster Report:

Chris Bosh missed Miami’s last two games to attend to a family matter, and may play tonight at the forum.

Starting Lineup: (PPG, RPG, APG, SPG, BPG)

Point guard – Mario Chalmers (10.9, 2.5, 3.5, 1.3, 0.1)

Shooting guard – Dwyane Wade (23.1, 4.3, 4.9, 1.7, 1.3)

Small forward – LeBron James (27.9, 8.2, 6.8, 1.8, 0.8)

Power forward – Chris Bosh (18.4, 8.3, 2.0, 0.9, 0.8)

Center – Joel Anthony (3.1, 4.3, 0.1, 0.5, 1.2)

Key off the bench:

Shane Battier went six-of-seven from outside as part of the starting rotation yesterday in relief of LeBron James, who was covering power forward in the absence of Chris Bosh. Look for him to provide outside depth and stout defense when called for.

Lakers:

Roster Report:

Kobe Bryant is playing through the nasal fracture he suffered at the hands of Dwyane Wade at the All-Star game last week. He will wear a mask at today’s game. Steve Blake is playing through a costachaondral fracture.

Starting Lineup: (PPG, RPG, APG, SPG, BPG)

Point guard – Derek Fisher (5.6, 2.1, 3.5, 0.9, 0.1)
Shooting guard – Kobe Bryant (28.8, 5.9, 4.9, 1.3, 0.3)
Small forward – Metta World Peace (5.3, 2.8, 2.0, 0.8, 0.3)
Power forward – Pau Gasol (16.9, 10.4, 3.2, 0.6, 1.3)
Center – Andrew Bynum (16.3, 12.8, 1.3, 0.5, 2.1)

Key off the bench:
Troy Murphy hits just under 42% of his three-point shots in an average of 19 minutes per game off the bench. He can also be counted on for an average of four points and four rebounds per game.

Miami Heat Visit Los Angeles Lakers:Facts And Figures

Season series: Heat, 1-0

GameTime: 3:30 ET

The Lakers own a 29-18 lifetime advantage over the Heat in head-to-head matchups. Of course, last week Dwyane Wade accidentally fractured Kobe Bryant’s septum in the All-Star game, but any hard feelings are apparently much ado about nothing.

Common Thread:

Lakers forward Jason Kapono played in 118 games for the Heat over two seasons, averaging eight points, two assists and one rebound in 21 minutes per game.

Team Milestones:

17 field goals will move LeBron James past P.J. Brown into 13th all-time with 1,130. Eight steals will move him past Jason Williams into 20th, with 195.

Dwyane Wade will reach the 4,000 free throws made plateau with four free throws this afternoon.

Chris Bosh needs 12 free throws to pass Jamal Mashburn into 17th with 534.

With his next three pointer, James Jones will pass James Posey into 13th all-time with 215.

Team Leaders:
Heat:
PPG:
LeBron James – 27.9
Dwyane Wade – 23.1
Chris Bosh – 18.4

RPG:
Chris Bosh – 8.3
LeBron James – 8.2
Udonis Haslem – 8.1

APG:
LeBron James – 6.8
Dwyane Wade – 4.9
Mario Chalmers – 3.5

SPG:
LeBron James – 1.9
Dwyane Wade – 1.7
Mario Chalmers – 1.3

BPG:
Dwyane Wade – 1.3
Joel Anthony – 1.2
Chris Bosh, LeBron James – 0.8

Lakers:
PPG:
Kobe Bryant – 28.8
Pau Gasol – 16.9
Andrew Bynum – 16.3

RPG:
Andrew Bynum – 12.8
Pau Gasol – 10.4
Kobe Bryant – 5.9

APG:
Kobe Bryant – 4.9
Derek Fisher – 3.5
Pau Gasol – 3.2

SPG:
Kobe Bryant – 1.3
Derek Fisher – 0.9
Metta World Peace – 0.8

BPG:
Andrew Bynum – 2.1
Pau Gasol – 1.3
Matt Barnes – 0.7

Miami Heat Visit Los Angeles Lakers: Game 37 Preview

The Heat finish up a West Coast roadtrip by trying to start out a new winning streak. They visit a masked Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, today at 2:30.