Lakers, Miami Heat Games Set for 2012-13 NBA Season

The 2012-13 NBA season is a few months away but we already have a taste as to what we will be seeing. The Los Angeles Lakers have greatly improved their chances of winning the NBA championship with the additions of Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison, and the team is poised for a successful campaign.

Although the full NBA schedule will not be released until later this week, we now know when the Lakers will be playing the defending champion Miami Heat.

The Heat got over the hump in 2012 and it will be looking to win a second consecutive title. The Lakers were the most recent team to win back-to-back titles and they know exactly what it takes to accomplish such a feat. Los Angeles will be playing Miami twice in 2012-13, one game will be at Staples Center while the other will be American Airlines Arena, The Sun Sentinel has learned.

The Heat will play Jan. 17 at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, and then host the Lakers for their lone visit South Florida visit on Feb. 10.

The Lakers and Heat split their season series in 2011-12, with the home team winning on its home floor. During the Lakers’ victory at Staples Center, Metta World Peace proved to be very effective player and he was no doubt the X-factor in the game. That win showed that the Lakers had the ability to beat the Heat, but sadly, the Lakers could not meet them in the Finals.

This time around, the Lakers-Heat games will be much more intriguing as both of them are title contenders. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James have never had the chance to meet in the NBA Playoffs, but these two regular season match-ups could be a preview of things to come in June.