Miami Heat forward LeBron James (R) moves against Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Miami, Florida, March 10, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MIAMI – Dwyane Wade scored 20 points, including three critical layups in the final seconds, and the Miami Heat snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 94-88.

Chris Bosh on Thursday scored 24 points to lead Miami, which improved to 44-21 to move within two games of Chicago for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Heat also ended a four-game home losing streak with a much-needed victory.

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"What better game than this game to get back on track?" Wade said. "We had to fight it out and we had to come back and make the plays at the end."

LeBron James added 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Heat, including two key free throws to create the final margin of victory.

"We had everything riding on this game, really, to be honest," Bosh said.

Despite their recent slump the Heat clinched a playoff berth and served notice their superstar lineup is a legitimate title contender.

"We didn't want to run away from this," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We didn't want to hide from any of this. We want to get better. We want to make sure our game is right and ready when it really counts."

Kobe Bryant scored 24 points to lead the two-time reigning NBA champion Lakers, who had been the NBA's hottest team with eight victories in a row. They fell to 46-20, third in the Western Conference.

"I just tried to make it tough for him," Wade said of defending Bryant. "He is a great player but I tried to contest every shot. He made two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter but I will take those. They were tough shots."

Wade made his last four shots after hitting only 5-of-19 before that.

"I wanted to be aggressive. I wanted a win," Wade said. "I was going strong to the basket."