"LeBron James balked at the implication going in, that this somehow was himself vs. Kobe Bryant, even with Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade again sidelined by a balky right ankle.

James then nearly made the debate moot when he missed the morning shootaround with flu symptoms.

Ultimately, James found himself with ample support, in a 98-87 victory Thursday night over the Los Angeles Lakers that lifted the Heat to 5-0 in Wade's absence this season and 10-4 overall.

"I just wanted to be there for my teammates," he said, after finishing with 31 points, eight rebound and eight assists."