[Basketball News]

MIAMI, Dec. 25 (AP) -- Growing up, Dwyane Wade was always around a television when it was time for the NBA's annual Christmas game telecast.

``You always watched,'' Wade said, ``because something exciting always happened.''

He wasn't watching on Monday - because he was the one providing the excitement.

Wade dismissed all pregame suggestions that his Christmas would be a 1-on-1 showdown against Kobe Bryant, then turned the matchup of two of the NBA's best scorers into a one-sided battle. He had 40 points and 11 assists, leading Miami to a 101-85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers - the third straight Christmas win for the Heat in the series.

``Makes it great, man, makes it great,'' Wade said. ``To be playing on Christmas is great. ... And we can go home and continue enjoying Christmas Day knowing that you played an unbelievable game, knowing that your team played well and that you got a win. Ain't too many things better than that.''

Heat 101,Lakers 85

[MJHMarc]

Bad game for the Lakers.

[Lefty Noob]

I for one am sick of seeing this match-up being the featured Christmas game. They need to switch it up a little. Although the whole Phil Jackson - Shaq spat is mildly interesting. Jackson's such a gutless coward... why wait till now to badmouth O'Neal? Funny how his whole opinion of Shaq vs. Kobe changed now that he's coaching Bryant again, isn't it?