The slumping Miami Heat had lost five straight games and desperately needed a big win. They got one on Thursday night, beating the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Heat got strong performances from their \’Big Three\’ of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to break open a close game with a 26-18 fourth quarter en route to a 94-88 victory in front of a boisterous crowd at American Airlines Arena. For the Lakers, the defeat ended an eight game winning streak and marked the second time this season they\’d lost to Miami.

NBA betting enthusiasts who took the value with Miami as +2 point home underdogs cashed their tickets with the outright win. It also represented a reversal of form in the recent pointspread performances for both teams-the Lakers had gone 7-1 ATS during their eight game winning streak while Miami had dropped seven straight to the number. The 182 combined points scored went UNDER the posted total of 189\’. The Lakers have now gone UNDER in five of their last six games, while the Heat has failed to exceed the total in four of their last six contests.

The Heat had endured a terrible run that started with a home loss to the New York Knicks followed by a blown 24 point lead in a loss to in-state rival Orlando. With the missing place streak at five games and the mental toughness of the team under question, Chris Bosh underscored the significance of the matchup with Los Angeles:

\”We had everything riding on this game, really, to be honest with you.\”

Miami coach Erik Spolestra agrees:

\”We didn\’t want to run away from this. We didn\’t want to hide from any of this. We want to get better. We want to make sure our game is right and ready when it really counts.\”

Dwyane Wade added:

\”We knew this game was going to come down to the end … We had to figure out a way and find a style, and we did that.\”

Lakers\’ coach Phil Jackson had been sniping at the Heat through the media all week, but had little to talk after the game:

\”Good game. They played better than we did. Ive no doubt we\’ll see them again sometime, I\’m sure.\”

LeBron James said that he and his teammates were undeterred by Jackson\’s mental warfare salvos:

\”You don\’t get too caught up in Phil\’s commentary. Phil\’s going to be Phil.\”

Miami certainly can play with the Lakers and while this was an important win for them they haven\’t solved all of their problems yet. They\’re winless this season against two of their primary contenders in the Eastern Conference-the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics-and to see the Lakers again this season they\’ll have to get past one, if not both.