There are few harder tasks in the NBA than guarding Kobe Bryant. Even at 33 and with a torn ligament in his right wrist, Bryant was averaging 31 points per game coming into Thursday’s game against the Heat. Before Monday’s 14-point clunker against Dallas, Bryant had scored at least 40 points in four consecutive games.

Leading up to Thursday night, coach Erik Spoelstra played his cards close to the vest when asked who would guard Bryant, saying only that the Heat would put “several” players on the Lakers’ star. By the time starting lineups were announced, Spoelstra’s strategy was revealed. Shane Battier got the start, just his second of the year, and guarded Bryant throughout the night. Battier was excellent, holding Bryant to 24 points on 11-of-27 shooting in the Heat’s 98-87 victory.

“This game is a clear reason why we went after Shane and why we wanted him for four or five years,” Spoelstra said. “The thing about Shane is he has to be one of the most disciplined, intelligent players I’ve ever been around. He simply does not make mistakes.”

Battier, who is one month older than Bryant, has been guarding Bryant for 10 years. The Bryant-Battier matchup is so acclaimed that Moneyball author Michael Lewis featured it in an article for The New York Times Magazine . In that piece, Lewis followed Battier and Bryant for an entire game. Bryant got the best of Battier that night, hitting a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

Thursday it was Battier who had the upper hand. In his article, Lewis wrote that Bryant does not favor going to his right or left, but that he is less effective going left. It didn’t take long for Battier to make Bryant uncomfortable Thursday. Of Bryant’s six first-quarter shots, four of them were from the left side of the basket. In the first quarter, Bryant shot 1 of 4 from the left, and 1 of 6 overall.

It took Bryant more than 10 minutes to connect on his first field goal.

But Battier didn’t stop Bryant alone, as the Heat threw several double teams at Bryant during the first quarter. Spoelstra and Battier said a multiple-defender approach is the key in disrupting Bryant’s rhythm.

“The misnomer is you don’t guard [Bryant] one-on-one; he’s too good,” Battier said. “You have to have great team defense.”

Bryant didn’t hit his first three-pointer until there were 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. At that point, he was guarded by Mike Miller. Two minutes later Battier entered the game for Miller, and 14 seconds after that Bryant attempted a three from the right wing. This time Battier contested it, and the shot clanked off the rim. A few minutes later, Bryant was standing at the same spot on the right wing. Pressured by Battier, he tried to get off a pass, but Battier knocked it down. With the shot clock winding down, Kobe threw up a desperation three. It was an airball.

Battier played 34 minutes Thursday, the most of any game this year that didn’t go into overtime. And he enjoyed every second.

“It’s a fun challenge,” said Battier of guarding Kobe. “This is what I enjoy, taking the defensive challenge of playing the best players in the world. For my money there’s no one better, no one tougher, than Kobe.”