Miami Heat open NBA title defence with win

The Miami Heat have opened their NBA title defence with a win over Derrick Rose's Chicago Bulls.

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George

Pacers' Paul George starred with 24 points as Indiana downed Orlando 97-87 in the NBA season opener. (AAP)

LeBron James scored 17 points as the Miami Heat spoiled Derrick Rose's return to the NBA by beating the Chicago Bulls 107-95 in the season-opener for both teams.

Chris Bosh scored 16 points, Shane Battier finished with 14 and Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers each scored 13 for the Heat, who got their 2013 NBA championship rings and raised their title banner in a pre-game ceremony at their home court.

Rose, the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player, finished with 12 points in 34 minutes in his first game since a knee injury sidelined him in April 2012.

Carlos Boozer had 31 points and seven rebounds for Chicago, which fell behind by 21 points at halftime but got within eight points in the final minutes.

Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers got 24 points from Paul George and 16 rebounds and seven blocks from Roy Hibbert to defeat the Orlando Magic 97-87.

The two-man tandem looked every bit as dominant in the season opener as they did leading the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals in the playoffs last season.

George's buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter gave Indiana a 69-64 lead and sparked the decisive 17-4 run to open the fourth.

Victor Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, had 12 points and three turnovers for the Magic.


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Source: AAP


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