LAKERS, WARRIORS ON RAMPAGE
Kyle Kuzma scored 33 points and LeBron James added 28 as the Los Angeles Lakers held off the visiting Miami Heat 108-105 on Monday for their sixth victory in seven games.
In his final game at Los Angeles, and his final matchup against former teammate James, Dwyane Wade produced 15 points and 10 assists Monday after collecting 25 points Saturday in the Heat’s road win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Wade, who is retiring after the season, didn’t score his first points until five minutes remained in the third quarter. He ended the night 0-for-7 from 3-point range.
James was 10 of 19 from the field and added nine rebounds and 12 assists, just missing out on his second triple-double with the Lakers. James scored a seasonhigh 51 points in a Nov. 18 victory at Miami.
Wade had two chances to give the Heat the lead in the final minute, but he missed a turnaround fadeaway, and missed then a 3-pointer. Wade also guarded James one-on-one in the final minute, with James missing a 20-foot jump shot.
The game opened as more of a night for mutual respect. The Lakers played a video tribute for Wade during a timeout midway throughout the first quarter. Wade and James then greeted each other with a hug at center court.
Wade went on to go scoreless in the first half, missing all five field-goal attempts, but he did have six assists. The Heat held a 58-55 lead at halftime behind 17 points from Winslow.
In Oakland, Draymond Green returned from an 11-game absence with a solid all-around performance, and Stephen Curry led a barrage from 3-point range with a game-high 38 points Monday, lifting the Golden State Warriors to a 116-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Warriors led by just six at halftime before easing away in the second half on the strength of 3-point shooting.Curry hit 7 of 14 from beyond the arc, while teammates Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combined for eight more, helping Golden State outscore the Timberwolves .