(SportsNetwork.com) - The Miami Heat are in good shape when Chris Bosh scores at least 30 points. The Heat hope Bosh can have an encore performance from his recent outing when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday.
Bosh made 13-of-20 from the field en route to 34 points in Sunday's 104-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and has recorded four 30-point efforts this season. Bosh scored 30-plus points only twice in 2013-14.
With LeBron James back in Cleveland, Bosh has taken on more of a scoring load for the Heat, who rebounded from last Thursday's loss at Portland in the opener of a five-game western sojourn.
Dwyane Wade ended with 17 points, 10 assists and four rebounds against the Clippers, while Hassan Whiteside stepped up to the tune of 23 points and 16 boards off the bench.
"Hassan had a terrific game," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "His confidence is rising. He's putting in the time."
The Heat held an 86-76 advantage heading into the final period and are 15-2 when leading after three quarters. The Clippers cut the lead down to 97-90 with two minutes to go, but Miami tightened up its defense to win for the second time in the last seven tries.
Miami evened its road mark at 9-9 and will also visit Golden State and Sacramento after this brief tour through Hollywood.
The Lakers are 1-1 on a four-game homestand and sustained a 106-94 loss to Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. With leading scorer Kobe Bryant (23.0 ppg) resting for a second straight game, Wesley Johnson led the home team with 17 points and Jordan Hill added 14.
Carlos Boozer provided 13 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which opened the homestand with a win over Orlando and lost for the 10th time in the previous 14 tries.
"We competed, I'm proud of that. We didn't run out of gas," Lakers coach Byron Scott said.
Scott said after practice Monday that he will have to talk to Bryant to see if he can play versus the Heat. According to Scott, Bryant has to be rested and ready to go before getting back on the court.
"The greatest thing about this is that he trusts me and he knows I got his best interests at heart," Scott said. "I want him to do the very best that he can but I want him to be the best basketball player he can be."
Bryant is questionable Tuesday and has posted an average of 24.8 points in 31 career games (26 starts) against the Heat. Bryant delivered 42 points against Miami back on Christmas of 2004.
Los Angeles and Miami will play the first of two matchups this season and will meet again March 4 in South Beach. The Heat took both games against the Lakers last season and have won four straight and eight of the last nine encounters.
The Lakers, who will close this homestand Thursday versus Cleveland and have a 4-0 record as the host against teams from the East, are 19-7 all-time at home versus the Heat.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.