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Los Angeles Lakers: The 10 best games of the 2019-20 regular season

By Cameron Salce

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers is fouled by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers is fouled by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

6. December 13th Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat – 3 point win against a top Eastern team

The addition of Jimmy Butler in the offseason and the emergence of third-year big man Bam Adebayo has made Miami one of the strongest and most consistent teams in the entire league this season. If the playoffs do end up happening, they could be a dark horse candidate to make it to and win the championship no matter what format.

The Lakers were able to defeat the Heat both times they played them this season, but the better game happened in December, when they won a close game in South Beach 113 to 110. In their first matchup, the Miami bench was not at full strength, with slam dunk champion Derrick Jones Jr. sidelined due to injury, and the Lakers beat them easily at home by 15 points.

Like most Lakers’ games this season, in their grudge match Davis and James took on a big portion of the scoring load combining for 61, more than half of the team’s point total. That lethal combination of inside and outside scoring proved to be too much for Jimmy Butler and the depth of the Miami roster to compete with.

Looking back at the box score, the strange thing that sticks out about this one was that all the Lakers starters were plus in the plus-minus category and the Miami starters were all a minus. Conversely, the Miami bench was all a plus and everyone on the Lakers bench was a minus.

The only anomaly was Alex Caruso who came off of the Lakers’ bench and was a plus-six for the game, but he was limited to only 10 minutes on the floor. The plus-minus stats in this game could point to the Miami bench having more of an impact in this matchup than the Lakers bench would.

This game proved Miami has two all-stars that can help keep pace with James and Davis. Showing the Lakers bench would have to step up in a seven-game series to keep up with the Heat’s shooting and scoring ability that their bench possesses.

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