The Los Angeles Lakers have recently found their groove, and LeBron James specifically did so in a major way on Sunday night. James put up 51 points against his old team, as the Lakers got the best of the Miami Heat, 113-97. James shot 19-of-31 from the floor in his 13th-career 50-point game, as the Lakers got back to .500 on the road, and improved to 9-7 after a slow start. This is his first 50-point game since Game 1 of last season's NBA Finals, as he haunted the team he won two titles and reached four Finals with. James finished things off with a three-pointer in the final seconds of the fourth, helping him finish 6-for-8 from beyond the arc.
It was James' first win over the Heat since leaving them for the Cleveland Cavaliers after the 2014 NBA Finals, as he was 0-4 against them since then. His teams were a combined 0-7 including the three games that he did not play for different reasons.
The loss for the Heat continues their early-season struggles, as they have now dropped four straight on their home floor. Wayne Ellington led the Heat with 19 points, as Miami sits at 6-10, which is good for their second-worst start in 12 years. The only other time it was worse for them was when they started 5-11 in the 2016-2017 campaign. Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson finished with 17 points apiece, but the Heat fell to 3-6 at American Airlines Arena this season.
The frustrations showed for Miami in the fourth quarter, when Richardson was ejected for throwing his shoe in to the crowd over a call he felt he didn't get moments ago. They are playing shorthanded, without Goran Dragic due to a right knee injury, while Dwayne Wade is still on leave for the birth of his daughter.
James put on this effort in just enough time for his return to Cleveland on Wednesday night, as his Lakers will battle the Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the struggling Heat will stay home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
It was James' first win over the Heat since leaving them for the Cleveland Cavaliers after the 2014 NBA Finals, as he was 0-4 against them since then. His teams were a combined 0-7 including the three games that he did not play for different reasons.
The loss for the Heat continues their early-season struggles, as they have now dropped four straight on their home floor. Wayne Ellington led the Heat with 19 points, as Miami sits at 6-10, which is good for their second-worst start in 12 years. The only other time it was worse for them was when they started 5-11 in the 2016-2017 campaign. Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson finished with 17 points apiece, but the Heat fell to 3-6 at American Airlines Arena this season.
The frustrations showed for Miami in the fourth quarter, when Richardson was ejected for throwing his shoe in to the crowd over a call he felt he didn't get moments ago. They are playing shorthanded, without Goran Dragic due to a right knee injury, while Dwayne Wade is still on leave for the birth of his daughter.
James put on this effort in just enough time for his return to Cleveland on Wednesday night, as his Lakers will battle the Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the struggling Heat will stay home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
