HEAT SEEKERS KOBE, LAKERS FINALLY BEAT O'NEAL'S HEAT LAKERS 100, MIAMI 92.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

This was redemption for Kobe Bryant, starting with the hands offered and hugs exchanged with Shaquille O'Neal before tipoff, and ending with the scoreboard at Staples Center tilted in his favor.

For the first time in four games since O'Neal was traded to Miami, Bryant's Lakers emerged on top, winning 100-92 on Monday night. Bryant finished with 37 points - 12 in the fourth quarter - in a game the Lakers led by 19 early in the third.

The only conflict came between O'Neal and rookie Andrew Bynum, the past and present of Lakers centers nearly coming to blows just before halftime. O'Neal finished with 18 points, but Bryant's brilliance won out again in the end.

With Bryant on the bench to start the fourth quarter, the Lakers faltered as Chris Mihm had a shot blocked and committed a three-second violation. They also had a shot-clock violation and saw their lead sliced to 79-75 as Gary Payton drove the lane for a layup.

What happened next was almost predictable. Lakers coach Phil Jackson called timeout and checked Bryant back into the game, guarded by Payton, his teammate for one stormy season in Los Angeles.

Bryant made two long jumpers over Payton and from midway through the fourth, then nearly tossed in a miracle shot as he collided with O'Neal cutting backdoor. Bryant settled for two free throws and a Lakers' lead restored to 84-77.

Bryant connected on a 20-footer with 1:35 left, Devean George pulled down a big offensive rebound and sank two free throws in the final minute and Lamar Odom hit a turnaround with 19.2 seconds left.

It was the Lakers' sixth victory in seven games since Bryant returned from suspension. The Lakers (21-17) also had lost all three games to the Heat since the O'Neal trade before Monday.

Bryant, playing the second consecutive game with a protective pad on his sprained right wrist, went 13 of 24 from the field.

Dwyane Wade carried the Heat all game but landed terribly as he tried to go up along the baseline and Bryant fouled him. Wade sprained his ankle and lay on the floor for an anxious minute as coach Pat Riley and O'Neal both came off the bench in concern.

Wade (34 points) stayed in the game for the rest of the quarter but headed to the locker room at the start of the fourth. He checked back in with 8:33 left in the fourth quarter.

The best fireworks came between O'Neal and Andrew Bynum, the 18-year-old rookie Jackson talked about playing against O'Neal from the first game of summer league. Bynum didn't get the chance on Christmas Day, but did Monday night.

It was the past and present of Laker centers on exhibit and didn't disappoint. O'Neal toppled Bynum on a follow-up dunk only to have Bynum take a pass from Bryant and spin past him in the post at the other end for a dunk.

With the crowd going crazy, Bynum bumped O'Neal setting up for defense and O'Neal retaliated in full. He grabbed Bynum and clocked him in the head with an elbow, leading to a double technical foul and both players having to be separated.

The Lakers went into halftime leading 57-42 as Bryant's 3-pointer as time expired kissed off the back rim and dropped in. Bryant had 17 points through two quarters.

The Lakers went ahead 63-44 barely 1 1/2 minutes into the third quarter as the Heat unraveled. Bryant drained a 3-pointer over Wade and O'Neal was called for a foul on Odom. Riley then was assessed a technical foul.

Forward Brian Cook was ejected by referee Joey Crawford with 5:58 left in the third quarter. Cook was called for one technical for standing over Wade after a hard foul in the quarter and drew a second technical for punching the air after he didn't get a charging call against James Posey.

After not even acknowledging Bryant on Christmas, O'Neal did so three times before tipoff Monday. As Bryant stretched at midcourt, Odom reached down and extended an arm. O'Neal and Bryant later hugged and said hello during the captains' meeting.

When they came up for the jump ball, Bryant and O'Neal again hugged as the crowd roared in approval. If nothing else, the two saved themselves numerous questions about their relationship when they play next season.

``They will find that peace and harmony sometime in their lifetime, hopefully,'' Jackson said before the game. ``But at this level, I think that there's still some animosity, there's still some things that are between them.

``I think Kobe seems to have handled it well, it's just Shaq's having trouble getting over that because he's had to leave and he's had to move on.

``He's handled it well, he's done a good job, he's adopted Miami, he's become a team player for them, and that's been great for their organization.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant takes a shot over Miami center Shaquille O'Neal in Monday's game. The feud between the two may be thawing - before the game, the two exchanged pleasantries.

(2) The Lakers' Smush Parker works his way around Miami center Shaquille O'Neal on his way to the basket.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

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