Lakers storm clear as Heat go cold
Miami trimmed the Los Angeles Lakers’ lead to six points with nearly nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Staples Center buckled in for a big finish between two NBA division leaders yesterday.
Instead, the Heat missed their next 13 shots and scored only six more points all night in LA.
The Lakers have two of the world’s best offensive players in their lineup, but they’re leading the overall NBA standings because of what they’re doing on the other end.
‘‘One thing about it — if your offense is behind your defense, you’re a really, really good team,’’ LeBron James said. ‘‘And I’m OK with that right now.’’
Anthony Davis had 26 points and nine rebounds, and James scored 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ seventh consecutive victory, 95-80 over the Heat.
James hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the waning minutes to seal another impressive win for the Lakers, who haven’t lost since their season opener against the LA Clippers.
Davis and James both had moments of brilliance with the ball in their hands, but the Lakers are looking impressive on the defensive end during their outstanding start.
‘‘I had high expectations about what we could be,’’ Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ‘‘We have a tonne of defensive talent, and because the care factor has been high, it’s come together pretty quickly.’’
Miami went 4 of 19 in the fourth quarter, and the Lakers held the Heat to one field goal and six points in the final 8:54. LA limited the Heat to 6-of-35 shooting on 3-pointers and outrebounded them 48-37 to win a meeting of division leaders off to outstanding starts to the new season.
‘‘It’s our way,’’ Davis said. ‘‘We want to be a good defensive team. That team scores, I think, 115 or something a game. We knew they were coming off a back-to-back, and we just wanted them to make them make shots. They had looks they missed. For the most part, we wanted to run them off the line. They’re No 1 in 3-point field goal percentage, and we held them to 17%.’’
Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and Goran Dragic added 19 for the Heat, who still lead the Southeast Division, despite losing twice on their three-game Western road trip. One night after scoring 124 points in a win at Phoenix, Miami couldn’t find a consistent offensive rhythm.
‘‘Even in the first half, we were playing this game in the mud,’’ Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. ‘‘Obviously, we didn’t have all of us. We’re not making any excuses by any means. That’s a great team. It just got away from us in the fourth quarter. I still thought we were there with six points, but they just scored three straight possessions and went from there.’’
Butler scored nine points in the third quarter to keep Miami in striking distance despite its 3-for-24 start on 3-pointers, including 11 consecutive misses spanning halftime.
■ THE NZ Breakers crashed to a bad away loss against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the ANBL last night, a poor second half burying the visitors.
The Breakers lost 103-78, after leading 48-42 at halftime. The home side won the third quarter 29-14 and the last stanza 32-16.
The pressure is now on the Breakers to climb out of their current form slump.
Top NBA draft prospect and Breakers guard RJ Hampton was ejected in the first quarter.
The 18-year-old was upset after being called for a foul for running into a screen that sent Phoenix guard Ben Madgen crashing to the floor, despite what appeared to be minimal contact, just four minutes into the match. Hampton took exception to a push from opposing guard John Roberson that sent him crashing to the floor in tangle of legs.
The young star retaliated by attempting to put his arm around Roberson’s neck before he was quickly dragged away.