Kobe Bryant delivered a masterful 33 points as the Los Angeles Lakers held off a late fightback by city rivals the Clippers to launch their NBA championship defense with a 99-92 win Tuesday. The 11-time All-Star guard also weighed in with eight rebounds and three assists to help his team pull away from the Clippers after their lead had been trimmed to one point going into the final quarter. Seven-foot center Andrew Bynum celebrated his 22nd birthday with 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers while forward Lamar Odom, starting in place of injured Spaniard Pau Gasol, chipped in with 16 points and 13 rebounds. For the Clippers, who were without rookie forward and top overall NBA draft pick Blake Griffin, guard Eric Gordon top-scored with 21 points and center Chris Kaman contributed 18 points and 16 rebounds. The evening began on an emotional note for the Lakers when last season's team and the coaching staff were presented with diamond-encrusted gold championship rings in front of former players including Jerry West and Magic Johnson. Veteran guard Derek Fisher then orchestrated the sellout crowd to chant ‘3-2-1' before the 2008-09 NBA championship banner was unveiled up above in the Staples Center rafters, sparking frenzied applause. With the ceremony over, both teams displayed signs of early-season rust but Bryant poured in 13 points as the Lakers began their defense in style. Celtics 95 Cavaliers 89: The Boston Celtics beat Cleveland 95-89, spoiling the hyped debut of the Cavaliers with LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal. James, the league MVP, and O'Neal were shaded by Boston's reunited Big Three. Paul Pierce scored 23 points, Ray Allen 16 and Kevin Garnett 13 in his first regular-season game since last March. James scored 38 and O'Neal added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Wizards 102, Mavericks 91: At Dallas, Gilbert Arenas had 29 points and nine assists to help stake Washington to an early lead over revamped Dallas in Flip Saunders' debut as Wizards coach. Arenas shot 10 of 21 and made 8-of-9 free throws for his most points since Nov. 14, 2007. Dirk Nowitzki scored 34 points. Shawn Marion had 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in his Dallas debut, but didn't have any baskets in the middle two quarters. Trail Blazers 96, Rockets 87: At Portland, Oregon, reserve Travis Outlaw scored 23 points as Portland beat Houston in the season opener. Brandon Roy added 20 points and five assists for the Blazers. Portland hit 20 of 22 free throws and outrebounded Houston 51-33. Aaron Brooks had 19 points for the Rockets, who defeated Portland in six games this past spring in the first round of the playoffs.
