MIAMI — Kobe Bryant didn’t make a final game appearance at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday, but the Miami Heat were just fine with having the 17-time All-Star guard in street clothes.
With Bryant a late scratch to give him a rest, the Heat handled the Los Angeles Lakers 101-88 Tuesday night.
Chris Bosh led the Heat with 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. Not to be outdone by the Heat forward, center Hassan Whiteside finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. He shot 8-for-12 from the floor.
The Heat (5-3) are 2-0 to start their seven-game homestand.
The Lakers (1-6) fell in the middle game of a five-game road trip after beating the Brooklyn Nets and losing to the New York Knicks.
With the big men contributing significantly, Miami outscored Los Angeles in the paint 46-30 and outrebounded the Lakers 47-36.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade finished with 12 points and six assists, but he did not score his first points until the middle of the second quarter.
Lakers guard Nick Young scored 14 of his team-high 17 points in the first half. Forward Metta World Peace and guard Lou Williams added 14 points apiece.
Young and World Peace started a combined 9-for-9 on 3-point attempts.
Holding a double-digit lead, the Heat got a pair of highlights from the bench in the fourth quarter.
Guard Tyler Johnson, who scored nine points, left Lakers guard Marcelo Huertas behind with a crossover dribble and then drew contact at the rim for a skillful and-one layup. Johnson later fed forward Josh McRoberts, who had four points, four rebounds and three assists, for a tomahawk slam.
Young gave the Lakers a spark off the bench early in the second quarter, connecting on his first five field-goal attempts and first four 3-point tries. He added another 3-pointer in the third.
After a review of the last jumper of his streak was changed from a two-point shot to a 3-pointer, it capped a 21-4 Lakers run that wiped out the Heat’s first-quarter lead. Young scored all 14 of his first-half points during the stretch.
Miami led 50-49 at halftime.
The Heat continue their homestand with a Thursday night game against the Utah Jazz. The Lakers stay in Florida for the second night of a back-to-back, playing the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday.
NOTES: The Heat traded G Mario Chalmers and F James Ennis to the Memphis Grizzlies for G Beno Udrih and F Jarnell Stokes on Tuesday. Chalmers has won two NBA titles with the Heat, the only team he’s played for in eight seasons. … G/F Kobe Bryant (rest) was scratched from the Lakers lineup. F Metta World Peace started in Bryant’s place and scored 14 points. Bryant’s last game in Miami was Feb. 10, 2013. … With Bryant inactive, rookie G/F Anthony Brown was activated for the Lakers. C Robert Sacre was the other Los Angeles inactive. … Miami announced G Gerald Green was suspended for two games for conduct detrimental to the team. Missing the previous four outings, Green will miss a total of six games. He will rejoin the Heat on Friday after Thursday’s meeting with the Utah Jazz.