By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Miami, FL

Dwyane Wade scored 29 points and LeBron James added 26 markers and 10 caroms despite sitting most of second half with leg cramps as the Miami Heat opened the season with a 120-107 victory over rival Boston Celtics Tuesday at American Airlines Arena.

Before the game, the Heat received their championship rings and raised the banner commemorating their second NBA title they won over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Chris Bosh added 19 points and 10 rebounds, Ray Allen scored 19 off the bench against his team of five years and Rashard Lewis contributed 10 markers from 4-for-5 shooting.

Point guard Mario Chalmers effectively quarterbacked the Heat with 11 assists while Bosh swatted three Celtics' attempts.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists and Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 13 dimes. Brandon Bass added 15 while Courtney Lee, who took Allen's spot in the starting cast, had 11 points.

Newcomers Leandro Barbosa and Jason Terry added 16 and eight points, respectively while rookie Jared Sullinger scored just two points in eight minutes of action.

The Heat bridged the third and fourth periods with an 11-2 run, with four coming from Lewis, to clinch their biggest lead at 93-75.

With three minutes left in the game, Barbosa, Lee and Garnett scored three straight baskets to bring the Celtics to within 111-107 but Bosh scored seven unanswered points and Wade added two foul shots from a flagrant foul by Rondo to seal the win.

Before he took the floor, Allen exchanged words, embraces and hugs from former coaches and teammates but was ignored by Garnett, who was then sitting on the bench.

Earlier, Garnett criticized Allen for leaving the Celtics and joining the Heat and even said that he erased the shooting guard's number in his phone.

"I choose not to communicate with him," Garnett said. "That's a choice I personally made. I'm very close to Ray, I know his family, I wish nothing but the best for him and his family, I just made the choice to move on. That's all."

 

 

Dwyane Wade, LeBron Shine as Heat Scorch Celtics