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103
92
Knicks Boxscore Heat Boxscore
Anderson contributed off the bench against his former team
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118
116
Kings Boxscore Heat Boxscore
Peja was unstoppable
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89
74
Shaq blocks Dwight Howard
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101
79
Wade slams on the Magic
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136
131
Lakers Boxscore Heat Boxscore
Dwyane steals the show in the first Kobe-Shaq showdown
KOBE-SHAQ I
Miami, FL (JAN 16)-In his first game against the Lakers -- who he helped lead to three NBA titles and last season's Finals -- since being traded in the offseason all eyes were on Shaquille O'Neal on Friday. But it was his new sidekick who stole the show. Dwyane Wade finished with 31 points and 11 assists and recordeda career-high 7 steals to lead Miami to the victory over the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, 136-131.
O'Neal, who asked for a trade after he felt Bryant forced coach Phil Jackson's departure after losing to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals, said in the buildup to the game that he was "a brick wall" and Bryant "a Corvette," and that everybody knows what happens when a Corvette collides with a brick wall.
During the game Bryant wasn’t shy about driving but couldn’t get anything with Shaq in the middle so he settled for the outside shot on his way to 50 points.
"I know there is a lot to talk about, the brick wall and all of that," Bryant said. "But I think that was just to hype the game. Ultimately (Shaq) is just going to come out here and play good basketball and that is what he did. The fans were treated to a good ballgame."
"I wanted to come in and get my team a win," O'Neal said. "I wasn't worried about doing anything crazy or out of my team's character. I would rather get a win every time."
O’Neal finished with 30 of his own and grabbed 20 rebounds.
But in a high paced game Shaq was wearing down late and the Heat looked to Wade to carry them.
"Shaq said to me to just go ahead and get this one for him," Wade said of O'Neal's fatigue. "And I said, 'I got you,' we've all got each other's back. I just tried to be aggressive and make good passes and just try to make plays."
This was a high scoring affair but Miami managed to get the stops late in the game to seal the victory.
"We dug in defensively and got some stops," Wade said. "We constantly talked about making them take tough shots because they were shooting the ball unbelievable. At the end we had to make them take tough shots, and I think we did a good job of that."
Kobe Bryant stayed optimistic after the loss.
"It was disappointing but it is a good learning experience for us," Bryant said. "We have been in so many of these games, about three or four of them against the top teams in the league, but have not been able to close them down. The more the season goes on, in January and February, you are going to see us winning these games. We are close."
Kobe wasnt shy about taking it on Shaq. Bryant finished with 50 in the loss.
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110
101
Pacers Boxscore Heat Boxscore
Udonis HA-SLAM
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Shaq and the HEAT avenge their earlier loss to the Spurs
Shaq denies rookie Josh Smith
Wade looks for someone to pass it to
D-Wade shot all over the Cavs
Shaq takes it in on an unsuspecting Yao Ming
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Dwyane shows his improved range in the Windy City