MIAMI, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Eddie Jones scored 18 points and Mike James added eight of his season-high 14 in the fourth quarter Tuesday night as the Miami Heat dominated the Los Angeles Lakers en route to a 97-85 victory.
Shaquille O'Neal missed the first 13 games of the season following offseason toe surgery but gave the Lakers a lift when he returned Friday. Los Angeles won the first two games at the Staples Center with its superstar center but could not carry that success into the opener of a three-game road trip.
Working against thin 7-foot center Vladimir Stepania and 6-9 power forward Brian Grant, the 7-2 O'Neal was held to 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in 32 minutes.
The Lakers never led after the first quarter and could not stop the Heat's balanced attack that featured six players in double figures.
Rookie Caron Butler scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half as Miami jumped out to a 50-41 lead. The Heat were clinging to a 62-57 lead before closing the third quarter with a 10-4 run.
Miami's Travis Best, who had 16 points, made two baskets during the spurt. Los Angeles never got closer than nine points in the final period.
Kobe Bryant scored 21 points but suffered a leg injury late in the fourth quarter as the Lakers lost in Miami for the first time since November 1997.
