Sun Sentinel

LOS ANGELES -- All you need to know is this: When Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant squared off in an exhibition last week, they played like the game meant something.

Sunday, they meet in a game that means something, which means the rivalry is about to be taken to the next level.

For all the storylines entering the Miami Heat's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, including the Heat coming off Friday's loss to the Utah Jazz, the Lakers' size advantage and the national-television glare, they all stand secondary to ... the masked man.

"AVAILABLE DARK." By Elizabeth Hand. Minotaur. $23.99.

In addition to introducing many readers to international mysteries, especially those from Scandinavian countries, Stieg Larsson's heavily tattooed heroine has allowed unconventional characters to flourish.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Two teenagers accused of setting schoolmate Michael Brewer on fire in a Florida parking lot more than two years ago pleaded no contest to second-degree attempted murder Tuesday, throwing themselves on the mercy of a Broward County judge instead of taking their chances with a jury.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.

"THE ROPE." by Nevada Barr. Minotaur. $25.99.

Since 1993, Nevada Barr has given readers solid, intriguing tours of America's national parks from Texas to Michigan to the Florida Keys, including an urban national park in New Orleans, via her series heroine, park ranger Anna Pigeon. In this series, readers have been swept up by the vistas, the breathtaking beauty of nature and by the ruthlessness of man. The petite Anna -- fearless, resilient, insightful -- has proven to be an exceptional guide.

"LUNATICS." By Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel. Putnam. $25.95.

The aptly named "Lunatics" delivers exactly what one would expect from two award-winning humorists: an outrageously funny, irreverent, over-the-top comic mystery that has no boundaries.

How funny is "Lunatics?"

KENDALL, Fla. -- It's no secret that for the first three months of the season the Panthers top-line trio of Stephen Weiss, Kris Versteeg and Tomas Fleischmann was one of the most productive lines in the NHL.

Unfortunately, that secret is out and opposing teams have determined that the best way to beat the Panthers is to stop that line from scoring.