LeBron scored 51 for the Lakers as a heat throw shoe in frustration

MIAMI – There was a time when LeBron James was harassed by Lance Stephenson would have worked wonders for the Heat.

Sunday was not one of those moments.

The scenario: the end of the match was decisive and Stephenson – former rival James, now his teammate with the Lakers – challenged him to end the match with a 3 pointer.

"I bet you're not going for the 3rd," Stephenson said.

The Heat probably wants this conversation never to take place. James wrapped up his 51-point night with a 32-foot 3-pointer in the final seconds, pointing Stephenson to let him know that he was wrong, and the Lakers overtook the Heat 113-97 for their seventh win of their last nine games.

James has turned 50 for the 13th time in his career, including the first game of the NBA finals last season.

"It's just playing with greatness," said Lakers goalkeeper Lonzo Ball. "Tonight he's back to the game."

James shot 19 times on field 31, 6 for 8 on 3 points, became the seventh player to score at least 51 points in a match against Miami and began his two-game reunion tour in a sensational way . The next Lakers game will take place Wednesday night in Cleveland, the only other place that Miami and L.A. James called home as a professional.

"It's always a pleasure to be here," said James, who embraced a crowd of familiar faces in the arena he called home. "We had some bad times, we had more good times, so it's always a factor of respect and a love for the people of Miami and especially for those who work here."

And finally, he left Miami again winner. Since he left the Heat after the 2014 NBA Finals, James was 0-4 against Miami. his teams were 0-7, including the three Cleveland-Miami games where he was absent for various reasons.

James did a show.

The heat launched a shoe.

It was their fourth consecutive loss at home and the frustrations were blowing away. Josh Richardson was ejected in the fourth quarter after throwing one of his sneakers in the stands, annoyed by a call that, in his opinion, had not been received a few moments earlier.

"I just can not let that happen," Richardson said.

Wayne Ellington scored 19 points for Miami (6-10), a second-worst start in 12 years. The Heat were 5-11 at this point in the 2016-17 season, the only other time they were worst after 16 games in that period.

Richardson and Tyler Johnson each scored 17 points for the Heat, while Rodney McGruder added 14 points.

"We are going to work," said Erik Spoelstra, Heat coach.

They also need health. Goran Dragic missed the match for Miami because of a problem in the right knee, which will be assessed on Monday. Dwyane Wade stayed on leave after the birth of her daughter and could return to the Heat this week.

Miami has not forgotten James, obviously – he is always encouraged when presented in his former home country – but just in case one of those present needs a reminder of his game, he has book. He managed eight of his first nine shots and ran all the arsenal; dunks in transition, 3-point stepback, straightening from baseline.

"When he hits such blows, what do you want us to do?" Asked Hassan Whiteside of the Heat Center.

Even with James' greatness, the biggest blow for the Lakers could have come from Brandon Ingram with 3:46 to go. Miami caught up in less than eight hours and the shot clock was about to expire on the Lakers, but Ingram logged in on a long left wing jumper to return it to 104. -94.

From there, the only drama was whether James would be 50 years old. And he did it.

"Just give him the ball," said Lakers goalkeeper Kyle Kuzma, "go away."