The headlines spoke for themselves during the March 4, 2012, showdown at Staples Center between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, in one of the more widely publicized NBA matchups of the year. Not only did it signal Kobe Bryant taking on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but there was also some hostility in the eyes of the media following a recent exchange.
Fresh off of the All-Star break, the Lakers fans loudly jeered at Wade during his introduction and each possession. This was due to Wade’s play on Bryant during the All-Star Game, which resulted in a broken nose.