MIAMI — Shaquille O'Neal pulled Dwyane Wade aside for a quick pregame word, something the Miami Heat superstars often share.

O'Neal's message, as usual, was simple.

"I told him just go out and play your game and mix it up," O'Neal said. "And he did that. That's why he's the best."

Wade had 40 points and 11 assists, dominating long stretches of the game and leading the Heat to a 101-85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday — giving Miami its third straight Christmas Day win in the series between the teams.

Wade made 12 of 20 shots from the floor, 15 of 16 from the line, added four steals, four rebounds and four blocks, plus got a huge ovation from a sellout Miami crowd when leaving with 57.9 seconds remaining.

"Makes it great, man, makes it great," Wade said. "To be playing on Christmas is great. ... And we can go home and continue enjoying Christmas Day knowing that you played an unbelievable game, knowing that your team played well and that you got a win. Ain't too many things better than that."

Kobe Bryant — who entered the game as the sixth-leading scorer in the league at 27.8 points — missed his first six shots, finished 4-of-17 from the floor and with 16 points, one over his season-low.

"You have to let it go," Bryant said. "It was disappointing, but we have two more games on this trip. It's a long season. We are 18-10. Now it is time to move on."