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NBA Game Summary - LA Lakers at Miami

Final Score: LA Lakers 104 - Miami 94

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Kobe Bryant poured in 33 points as the Lakers iced the Heat, 104-94, in a battle of two squads that recently altered the makeup of their rosters, having completed blockbuster trades.

The Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis on Feb. 1, and he played his fourth contest with his new teammates. The Heat made a trade with Phoenix last Wednesday, dealing Shaquille O'Neal to get Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, who suited up for their Miami debuts.

Sunday afternoon, it was Los Angeles proving its move paid the more immediate dividend.

Gasol finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, helping Los Angeles win its third outing in the four since his arrival, and fifth of its last six overall. Lamar Odom tallied 15 points while reeling in 18 rebounds and distributing six assists in the effort. Sasha Vujacic scored 13 off the bench to lead all reserves.

"We're in a situation that we want to be in and I think we're wishing to be in for a while," Gasol said. "It's definitely a lot of pressure and a lot of responsibility, but at the same time, it feels great."

Marion contributed 15 points and pulled down 14 boards in his debut, though the Heat slipped to a league-worst 9-40 overall. Mark Blount contributed 22 points, as Miami dropped its seventh straight contest and has fallen in a dreadful 22 of its last 23 games. Banks ended with seven points and four assists in nearly 15 minutes off the bench.

"He plays a really high energy running game," Miami coach Pat Riley said of Marion. "The most important thing is spacing and getting out ahead of the ball and making good decisions. We have a very good defensive rebounder in Shawn. He's so used to getting out and running that it's going to take some time for the whole thing to come in sync."

Dwyane Wade added 19 points while handing out nine assists, though he also accounted for nine of Miami's 18 turnovers. Dorell Wright netted 15 points, and Jason Williams chipped in with 10 points in the loss, as all five Heat starters scored in double figures.

"We just ran out of juice out there tonight," Marion said. "I got tired myself out there."

The Heat pulled within four points when they ripped off a 15-2 flurry in the fourth quarter. Wade highlighted the burst with six points, and his layup with 1:26 to play cut the LA lead to 98-94.

On the other end, Gasol hit a hook shot, stretching the Lakers' advantage to 100-94 with 1:04 left in the game. Following an errant Wade three-pointer, the squads traded turnovers, and with 36 seconds remaining, Miami had no choice but to foul.

Bryant shot 4-for-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch to ensure the victory for Los Angeles.

"It was a good game to win," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. "We didn't play particularly well, but we were able to win the game."

The Lakers ended the first quarter on a 9-2 run. Jordan Farmar stroked a three-pointer as time expired, and Los Angeles had the one-point edge, 25-24, moving into the second stanza.

The affair was a dead-heat, 43-43, with 4:32 left until the intermission, but the Lakers had an 8-2 spurt in the closing minutes. Bryant connected on a pair from the stripe to put LA on top, 51-45, with 1:07 to go.

Wade hooked up with Marion for an alley-oop layup with 34 seconds on the clock, and the Heat headed to the locker room trailing 51-47.

Out of the break, Los Angeles extended its advantage with a 19-9 barrage. Derek Fisher drained a jumper to cap the burst, as the Lakers surged ahead, 74-60, with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Miami used a 13-2 flurry to cut the deficit to a long basket, 76-73, before LA ended the frame on a 6-0 scoring streak. Luke Walton knocked down a pair of free throws with 26 seconds to play, and the Lakers' lead was at 82-73 when the period concluded.


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