Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers raised their 15th championship banner on Tuesday as they tipped off a new National Basketball Association season with a 99-92 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
A plethora of Laker stars from the past turned out to help the defending champions collect their rings and unveil their new banner high in the rafters of Staples Center arena.
“It’s a magical night,” Bryant said. “The last time we really reminisce on past seasons so it felt good.”
PHOTO: AFP
The Lakers were one of eight teams making their season debut on Tuesday and in another key game, Paul Pierce scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lift Boston to a 95-89 win over the Cavaliers, spoiling the opening night for the new Cleveland duo of LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal.
Magic Johnson, Jerry West, James Worthy, Rick Fox and Robert Horry took their positions at center court, where they rubbed shoulders with current Lakers Bryant, Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher.
The Lakers also welcomed back Tex Winter, presenting him with his championship ring during a brief on-court ceremony at the end of the third quarter. The Lakers assistant coach Winter is still recovering after suffering a stroke six months ago.
PHOTO: AFP
“It is always tough to play these games after those kind of ceremonies. I think when you have that kind of ceremony and this kind of re-living the last year and you are not ready to step up and march to the tune of this season yet,” Jackson said. “We got it back. We did okay.”
Lakers rising star Andrew Bynum made his 22nd birthday a special one by scoring 26 points and hauling down 13 rebounds against the Clippers. Bryant led all scorers with 33 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
The win extended the Lakers win streak over the Clippers to nine straight and raised their record overall at Staples Center to 32-9 against the Clippers.
The Lakers and Clippers not only play in same city but they share the same building and while the game was a sellout, the crowd of 18,997 was decisively pro-Laker.
The Lakers played without forward Pau Gasol, who was out with a strained hamstring.
Free throws were key on Tuesday as the Lakers had 37 attempts from the line compared to just 16 for the Clippers.
Bynum was solid from the line stepping up when he had to and finishing eight of 10.
Lakers beat Orlando in five games in the finals last year for their 15th NBA title and they will be going after another title with the same basic group.
“We certainly have the talent to win another one,” Bryant said.
The Lakers held onto one free agent in Lamar Odom but Trevor Ariza left to join the Houston Rockets. Odom had a busy offseason marrying reality television performer Khloe Kardashian but now says it is time to concentrate on basketball.
“We feel like we can play for the record of most wins in a season and win another championship,” Odom said.
The Lakers hope to fill the void left by Ariza’s departure with the addition of volatile forward Ron Artest who signed a five-year, US$33 million deal.
Artest struggled in shooting making just three-of-seven from the free throw line.
“I’m motivated to win,” Artest said.
The Clippers are hoping to erase memories of a dismal 19-win season last year. But even before their season got off the ground on Tuesday they received more bad when it was learned that first-overall pick Blake Griffin had suffered a broken knee cap and could be out for up to six weeks.
The Lakers led by 10 points (59-49) at the half then let the Clippers close the gap in the third before pulling away in the fourth quarter.
“We just played with a sense of enjoyment that carried us for the first half,” Bryant said. “In the second half we had to get to the grind a little more.”
Eric Gordon led the Clippers with 21 points against the Lakers.
Clippers Baron Davis said the game was close and he sees an upside to the season.
“Last year we got blown out but I think this year it is a different team,” Davis said. “We really felt we could have won this game.”
In Cleveland, reigning MVP James knocked down 38 points and had eight assists. O’Neal, a 15-time All-Star who was traded to the Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns in the offseason, poured in 10 points and 10 rebounds in a rare home loss for the Cavs.
Last season, the Cavaliers won their first 23 home games, on the way to a 39-2 mark at home.
Dallas and Portland were also winners on Tuesday.
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