Before the game, Dwyane Wade tried to deny that the game would be a one-on-one challenge against Kobe Bryant, and after the 101-85 victory for the Miami Heat, there was no doubt who brought more presents to the fans at the American Airlines Arena.

Wade scored 40 points, but also had 11 assists, four blocks, and four steals. Wade shot 60% from the floor (as well as 15-16 from the charity stripe), which was a huge improvement compared to last year’s Lakers-Heat Classic.

Kobe Bryant never got his shot going, scoring just 16 points on some ugly shooting percentages (free throws aside), but somehow the rest of the Lakers’ team was able to keep the game from falling out of reach. Ronny Turiaf, Luke Walton, and Sasha Vujacic all played solid games, but the Lakers were outrebounded by the Heat 45-31, and allowed the defending champions to shoot 7-16 from behind the three-point line.

Both teams played without one of their stars, Lamar Odom and Shaquille O’Neal, though it’s difficult to say how effective the Big Aristotle will be when he returns. O’Neal has only played in four of the team’s 28 games this season, in which he put up obviously diminished numbers.
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