Miami 99, L.A. Lakers 90

Heat 99, Lakers 90: LeBron James scored a season-best 39 points to go along with eight assists and Dwyane Wade added 27 points as visiting Miami defeated Los Angeles to earn a split of a six-game road trip.

Wade drained the tiebreaking basket with 2:12 to play and Ray Allen and James followed with hoops as the Heat used a game-ending 9-0 run to drop the Lakers five games below .500 just two contests before the midway point.

Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 22 points in the final quarter for the Lakers but was just 8-of-25 from the field. Metta World Peace tallied 16 points and Dwight Howard had 13 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, which committed 20 turnovers compared to six by the Heat.

Miami led by nine points early in the final quarter before Los Angeles rallied to take an 83-81 lead on Bryant’s basket with 6:33 to play. Bryant tied the contest at 90-90 on a 3-pointer with 2:32 remaining before the Heat dominated the rest of the contest.

Los Angeles led 45-44 at halftime despite committing 16 first-half turnovers. James scored 11 third-quarter points as the Heat took a 73-65 lead into the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lakers F Pau Gasol had 12 points in 25 minutes after missing the previous five games due to a concussion. … James was 17-of-25 from the field and also grabbed seven rebounds. … Four different players from the two teams were named All-Star Game starters – Bryant and Howard for the Western Conference and James and Wade for the Eastern Conference.

• L.A. Lakers will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Lakers have a W/L % of .471 after a win and .409 after a loss.
• Miami will play their next game at home against Toronto. The Heat have a W/L % of .640 after a win and .769 after a loss.