Here is what you need to know before the Lakers take their road trip to Florida against the Miami Heat.
1)
Roy Hibbert is coming off his second double-double of the season. The 7-foot-2 defensive stalwart is also sixth in the league in blocks (2.7).
2)
The Lakers have been letting the 3-pointers fly with 29.8 attempts per game — the second-most in the league. But getting those shots to drop in has been a separate issue, as they rank just 27th in 3-point percentage (29.1).
3)
Lakers head coach Byron Scott and Heat President Pat Riley go back to the Showtime era together. Then in his mid-20s, Scott was Riley’s starting shooting guard during a string of three Lakers championships in four years in 1985, ’87 and ’88. Under Riley, Scott was also a 1984 First Team All-Rookie selection and led the NBA in 3-point percentage the year after (43.3 percent).
4)
Miami boasts one of the most accomplished rosters in the league, with a combined 29 all-star appearances between Dwyane Wade (11), Chris Bosh (10), Amar’e Stoudemire (six) and Luol Deng (two). San Antonio is the only other team that can match that total.
5)
Wade and Kobe Bryant will postpone the 20th meeting of their careers, as Bryant has been given the night off to rest. Despite an 11-8 edge to Wade in wins, the two men have similar numbers in their head-to-head matchups, with Bryant averaging 27.3 points and 4.9 assists on 44.1 percent shooting, while Wade counters with 24.2 points, 6.6 assists and a 44.8 percent clip.
6)
This season, Miami is relieved to have Chris Bosh back in the fold. Currently averaging 16.6 points and 9.7 rebounds, Bosh missed the second half of last year due to blood clots in his lungs, which could have been fatal. Right now, the two-time champion leads the league in steal-to-turnover ratio (4.0).
7)
Few bigs are making an impact like Hassan Whiteside, who is tied for the NBA lead in blocks with Rudy Gobert (4.0). The 7-foot former D-League standout is also third in field goal percentage (63.9) and fifth in rebounds (10.9).
8)
The Lakers are looking to break a six-game losing streak against the Heat, whom they last beat on March 4, 2012. The purple and gold also haven’t won in Miami since Feb. 10, 2008.
9)
To get that victory, the Lakers are going to need to solve an elite defense. Miami is allowing the NBA’s second-fewest points (90.4) and second-lowest field goal percentage (40.9). It gets even more difficult from downtown, where the Heat are holding their foes to a league-worst 27.0 percent on 3’s.
10)
If L.A. can keep it close through three quarters, it still has to deal with Miami’s fourth-quarter offense. In the final period, no team shoots better than the Heat’s 51.9 percent clip from the field.
Miami Heat Shot Chart (Fourth Quarter)