Miami @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 10, 2018 ) Miami 105, L.A. Lakers 108

LeBron James has kicked off November with three straight triple-doubles and can extend that streak to four against his former team when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Miami Heat on Friday night. James finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists as Los Angeles rallied from 13 down in the fourth quarter to beat Chicago 118-112 on Tuesday and increase its winning streak to six after losing the season opener.

“Obviously, we’re witnessing greatness on a daily basis and all of us, we just want to consume as much as possible,” Lakers guard Quinn Cook told the Los Angeles Times of James, who leads the league with 11.1 assists per contest. “He gives everything he has to us every single day. He is the first one in the gym. … He’s just the ultimate team player, the ultimate team leader.” The Lakers enjoy six of the next seven contests at home after sweeping through a three-game road trip and won both meetings with the Heat last season, including at 108-105 triumph at the Staples Center on Dec. 10. Miami comes to town after rebounding from a 20-point loss at Denver to open its three-game trip with a 124-108 triumph at Phoenix on Thursday as Jimmy Butler poured in a season-high 34 points. The Heat were without forward Justise Winslow (13.8 points, 8.0 rebounds), who is in concussion protocol after a collision in the Denver game, and forward Derrick Jones Jr. left Thursday’s contest with a hip strain.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NBATV; FS Sun (Miami), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE HEAT (6-2): In addition to Butler’s big night (11-of-16 from the field) Thursday, veteran guard Goran Dragic matched his season best with 25 points off the bench and center Bam Adebayo registered his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie guard Tyler Herro had a season-low two points at Denver, but came back to score 15 and drained three of his four tries from 3-point range off the bench. Undrafted guard Kendrick Nunn was held to 11 points at Phoenix, but is behind only Butler (18.8) for the team lead in scoring at 17.3, while Adebayo is pulling down a club-best 9.4 rebounds per contest.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (6-1): Los Angeles entered Thursday tied for fourth in the league in scoring defense (101.1), but the Lakers know they can improve on that side of the court after allowing the Bulls to shoot 50.6 percent from the field Tuesday. “The things we’re doing wrong are correctable on our end,” center Anthony Davis, who leads the team in scoring (26.6) and rebounding (10.9) told the Times. “So we just got to keep getting better and better and watch film, learn from it each day, each practice get better on the defensive end.” Guard Avery Bradley (10.7 points, 51.9 percent from the field) is day-to-day after missing Tuesday’s game with a leg injury.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Miami’s 7-0 C Meyers Leonard made both his 3-point attempts Thursday and is 11-for-16 this season.

2. James is the first Laker to string three triple-doubles together since Hall of Famer Magic Johnson in 1987.

3. Heat F Udonis Haslem and G Dion Waiters are day-to-day with stomach viruses.

PREDICTION: Lakers 112, Heat 104