After Wade put Miami ahead 102-100 with 49 seconds left on an awkward one-handed shot from the baseline, Miami appeared to sew up its first road win over the Lakers in five tries when Wade's two free throws put the Heat up 106-102 with 9.3 seconds to play.

"I only get a chance to play against them twice a year, and I take on the challenge and I enjoy it," Wade said. "I enjoy the competitive nature that I know Kobe's going to bring every night, and I'm going to bring the same things. I think he understands that as well, so it was a good battle going back and forth. He got the last laugh this time."

Pau Gasol scored 22 points and Andrew Bynum added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, who had won seven straight games by double digits while surging to the top of the standings. After several games against struggling opponents, they seemed headed to a narrow defeat in their toughest test in weeks - but Bryant wouldn't allow it.

In the midst of an underwhelming start to the season, Miami showed considerable moxie in its third game in four days. Quentin Richardson hit a 3-pointer with 2:44 to play to put the Heat in front before Wade scored nine of their final 11 points.

Moments earlier, O'Neal and Odom exchanged shoves after Odom fouled O'Neal, who bumped into Odom while hanging on the rim after his dunk. When Odom reacted angrily, O'Neal gave him a one-handed shove in the chest, and Odom responded with a two-handed shove.

Both got technical fouls, but the T was Odom's second, resulting in his ejection.

Bryant's duel with Wade didn't start out with much excitement: Wade scored one point in the first quarter and didn't manage a field goal until throwing down two stellar dunks in the final 2:04 before halftime.

NOTES: Gasol fell to the court writhing in pain with 6:03 to play after Odom poked him in the left eye while both players tried to block a layup by Richardson. Gasol returned to the game when Odom was ejected. ... Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he discussed Ron Artest's recent admission of drinking alcohol during games a decade ago - not to talk about Artest's drinking, but about his decision to discuss it with the media.