NBA: Lakers bring star power, winning streak into game against Heat

Luka Doncic and LeBron James are headed to Miami as the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Heat on Thursday night.

Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (33.0 points) and ranks third in assists (8.5).

James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, is set to return to Miami, where he led the Heat to four straight Eastern Conference titles (2011-14) and a pair of NBA championships.

The Lakers (44-25) have won seven straight games, including five contests against teams currently in playoff position. Doncic and James combined for 70 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in Los Angeles' 124-116 win over Houston on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Heat (38-31) are 1-2 since Bam Adebayo pumped in a franchise-record 83 points, breaking a mark that had been held by James.

Adebayo missed Miami's most recent game due to tightness in his right calf, and he is listed as day-to-day going into the game with the Lakers.

Fellow Heat starter Andrew Wiggins (toe injury) also is listed day-to-day.

Adebayo leads Miami in starts (60) followed by Davion Mitchell (58), Wiggins (57) and Norman Powell (50).

Second-year player Pelle Larsson is -- perhaps surprisingly -- fifth on that list with 45 starts.

After all, Larsson -- a second-round pick in 2024 -- made just eight starts as a rookie.

"He's gaining more trust and confidence," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Larsson. "He's been reliable since Day One, but he made a big jump in the final six weeks of last season. That propelled him to having a great summer and training camp and right into this season."

Indeed, Larsson's scoring average has more than doubled from last season (4.6) to the current campaign (10.8). His effective field-goal percentage, which accounts for the value of a 3-point shot, has improved from 51.7 to 55.1, and his rebound average has doubled to 3.4. His assists are also up, from 1.2 to 3.3.

All of that is important because Tyler Herro, who was a first-time All-Star last season, has missed 47 games in the current campaign.

Herro's scoring average of 21.4 is second-best on the Heat. Larsson, though, brings a different energy, more likely to draw a charge as opposed to hitting a 3-pointer.

The Lakers have won their two most recent games against the Heat, although both of those contests were in Los Angeles. When the teams last played in Miami -- on Dec. 4, 2024 -- the Heat prevailed, 134-93.

Then again, at that date, the Lakers had not yet acquired Doncic, who arrived in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2025.

In 13 career games against the Heat, Doncic is averaging 25.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

James, 41, still is performing at a high level, averaging 21.4 points, 6.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds.

As for playing on consecutive nights, James said: "You can't harp on the previous game too long because there's another one coming up. It's like the wild, wild West."

At this point of the season, James said, it's already like playoff basketball. And, James was asked this week if he is amazed by his own play given his age.

"It definitely does surprise me," he said.

James also said he is "banged up" injury-wise, although he managed to play 34 minutes on Wednesday.

-Field Level Media/Reuters