Philippines, 27 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Lakers unmask Heat's lack of size


PhilBoxing.com




LOS ANGELES -- A week after sustaining a broken nose at the All-Star Game in Orlando, Kobe Bryant continues to wear a protective facial gear as he and the Lakers toil through the second half of this lockout-shortened NBA season.

And as it turned out Sunday afternoon here at the Staples Center here in downtown L.A., neither mask nor the Miami Heat could stop the Black Mamba.

Bryant insisted he had no ax to grind against the Heat, whose star Dwyane Wade broke his nose on an uncharacteristic hard foul last Sunday. But Kobe played with some extra sauce in this one, scoring 33 points to lead the Lakers past Miami, 93-83.

Kobe made 14 of 23 shots and went 8 of 10 for 16 points in the opening quarter, allowing the Lakers to control the game early and often. In his third 30-plus points performance in three games, Kobe also had 7 rebounds and swished 5-of-7 free throws.

Chris Bosh, a vital piece of Miami's Big 3, attended his grandmother's funeral and didn't suit up for the game. And without the 6-foot-11 power forward, the Heat struggled miserably to contain the Lakers' bigs -- 7-footers Andrew Bynum and Paul Gasol.

Bynum and Gasol combined for 27 points and 23 rebounds as they imposed their collective might in the paint. In sharp contrast, Miami's big men, Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem, only pooled seven points and 6 rebounds between them.

There was no shortage of firepower from the Lakers, who drilled 35 of 71 field goals and got 17 points from the forward formerly known as Ron Artest --- Metta World Peace. LA had only 19 assists to Miami's 22, but the Lakers won the rebounding battle, 44-35.

LeBron James filled the stats sheets with another MVP-like effort -- 25 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. But Miami, as a team, were an awful 33 of 88 from the field (37.5 percent). The Heat sank just 7 of 24 three-point shots and they bungled 5 of 15 free throws.

Wade fouled out in the final 5:14 of play with the Lakers nursing a 79-72 bulge. Wade turned in a more than decent output of 16 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.

On the crest of a three-game winning streak, the LA Lakers now lead the Pacific Division with a 23-14 slate. a mere half-a-game lead over the retooled and suddenly very good LA Clippers (21-13).

After stringing together nine straight wins, the Heat lost its second in a row and fell to 28-9 in the tough Eastern Conference led by the streaking 30-8 Chicago Bulls.(NVR)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicholai R. Roska.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taduran Dominates Balunan to Retain IBF Minimumweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 26 Oct 2025
  • GM Antonio outwits Kazakh GM, shares lead
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 26 Oct 2025
  • Pedro Taduran Defends IBF 105 Belt Against Christian Balunan Sunday
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • DAVID ALCAIDE CROWNED INAUGURAL PHILIPPINES OPEN CHAMPION
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Bryce Mills vs. James Bernadin Venue Changed: Randolph House Hotel & Convention Center Will Host Pro/Am Card in Liverpool, New York
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Parker vs. Wardley: Who Will Keep Winning Streak Alive?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman Stays Undefeated with Second-Round TKO in Southern California Debut
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Elmo Traya, Reymond Yanong, Ivan Ognayon in Action in Brico Santig's Show Today in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Alessio Bisutti Fights for WBF Heavyweight World Title in Highland Show October 25 in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS XXXVI AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • 30 people arrested in NBA gambling operation
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • GM Joey beats CM Marc in Italy World Senior Standard chess tourney to climb at 2nd place
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • RomyMac’s Ali memories
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • NBA Daily: Warriors Survive Gordon’s 50 to Beat Nuggets in Overtime 137-131
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. wins world seniors blitz title in Italy
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Russian athlete, first winner of 8 medals in a single Olympic Games, dies
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • DAY FOUR: SHAW DELIVERS GREATNESS TO JOIN ALCAIDE, CAPITO AND SEVASTYANOV IN STELLAR SEMI-FINAL LINEUP
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Six is ‘Thrilla’s’ magic numbe
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • CARLOS LLINAS PRESENTS TWO BOXING SHOWS IN JUST EIGHT DAYS AT SOUND BOARD IN MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL STARTING FRINDAY OCT 24
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Boxing Insider Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City with Local Talent and Regional Prospects on November 7
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Lhuillier, Santos Capture Men’s A1 Title in UTP Level-Based Tennis Challenge at Hillsborough
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED U.S. DEBUT EVENT ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, IN TEMECULA, CALIF.
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Mike Tyson visits Kinshasa, Congo to remember "Rumble in the Jungle"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Former World Champ Javier Fortuna Takes on Rashidi Ellis Nov 1
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • When to stop a fight
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 23 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.