Miami avenge final loss to Dallas with sizzling win in opener

NBA: Miami heat 104-94 Dallas Mavericks


Miami Heat's LeBron James (left) in action during Sunday's NBA
season-opening game against Dallas Mavericks in Texas. (inset)
Erik Spoelstrau00a0. PICs/AFP

The Miami Heat watched the Dallas Mavericks raise their NBA championship banner and then took revenge from their finals defeat last season with a 105-94 victory on the opening day of the delayed NBA season.


A Dallas Mavericks cheerleader performs in her Christmas-inspired
dress. PICs/AFP

As the league program finally got under way after the summer-long labour dispute, LeBron James poured in 37 points and added 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Heat to a victory more comfortable than the final score suggested. They led by as many as 35 points early in the second half.

Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra is glad to have started on a winning note.u00a0 "It's not about last year's storyline. It's not about anything else other than trying to establish our season on the right note. And obviously I think we did that for the most part," Spoelstra told www.nba.com.

Other results:
' New York 106-104 Boston
' Chicago 88-87 LA Lakers
' Oklahoma City 97-89 Orlando
' LA Clippers 105, Golden State 86