NBA – Kobe, Lakers beat Clippers in season-opener

LOS ANGELES (NBA) - A strained hamstring won't keep Spanish basketball icon Pau Gasol from making his eagerly anticipated appearance on the hit American television show CSI Miami on November 16 but it did prevent the seven-footer from making his NBA season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

The defending champions overcame EuroBasket 2009 MVP Gasol's absence, however, and beat the cross-town LA Clippers 99-92 with Team USA superstar Kobe Bryant scoring 33 points.

Bryant, who is expected to represent the Americans at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, also came up with four steals in the victory while Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom provided a tough one-two punch inside.

Bynum had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Odom poured in 16 points while also pulling down 13 boards.

Summer signing Ron Artest had 10 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Chris Kaman, who could play for Germany this summer if they receive a wild card to the FIBA World Championship, had 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for the Clippers.

In a nice ceremony before the game, the Lakers were presented with their champions rings following the team’s NBA Finals triumph last season over the Orlando Magic.

“It’s a great night,” Bryant said. “It’s a magical night.”

Argentina's Luis Scola had a nightmare season-opener for the Houston Rockets, who are playing without Yao Ming this season while the China national team center recovers from foot surgery.

Scola had just three points and four rebounds in 22 minutes while turning the ball over three times and committing four fouls as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Rockets, 96-87.

The Trail Blazers, who learned this week that their 21-year-old France international Nicolas Batum requires shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and will be lost for three to five months, got a game-high 23 points from Travis Outlaw off the bench.

Another Spain star, Rudy Fernandez, played more than 25 minutes and scored eight points for the Blazers.

Germany’s Dirk Nowitzki rested during the summer for the NBA by skipping a EuroBasket for the first time.

The former NBA MVP had 34 points and nine rebounds but the Dallas Mavericks slumped to a 102-91 home defeat to Washington.

Gilbert Arenas scored 29 points and dished out nine assists for the Wizards.

The Boston Celtics won their battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights at the Cleveland Cavaliers, 95-89.

Team USA's LeBron James had 38 points for Cleveland and Shaquille O'Neal added 10 points and 10 rebounds but Boston's defense and balanced attack were too much.

Celtics captain Paul Pierce scored 23 points and corralled 11 rebounds and Kevin Garnett added 13 points and 10 boards.

FIBA