Heat. Lakers. LeBron. Kobe. Wade. The Heat have lost five in a row, and if the Lakers win, Miami will be just two games ahead of Orlando for the 3rd spot in the East. The Lakers have won eight in a row, and a win in Miami, combined with a Dallas loss against New York (TNT, 9:30 pm) would vault LA to the No. 2 seed in the East. The Lakers, who were throttled by the Heat on Christmas Day, are 1-point favorites. [NY Times]
