USA – James makes winning debut with Heat

MIAMI (NBA) – LeBron James and Chris Bosh combined for 38 points as the Miami Heat overcame the loss of Dwyane Wade to beat the Detroit Pistons 105-89 in their pre-season opener.
 
Wade suffered a strained right hamstring in the game’s opening minutes and did not return. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said he will be re-evaluated in a week’s time.
 
In the star guard’s absence, his 2008 Olympics team-mates James and Bosh picked up the slack to build a 20-point halftime lead, 58-38.
 
The Pistons couldn’t muster a decent rally in the second half and the hosts rolled to a comfortable win.
 
Meanwhile, Yao Ming appeared in his first game since May 2009 but couldn’t prevent his Houston Rockets from losing at home to the Orlando Magic, 97-88.
 
After missing the entire 2009-2010 season with a broken left foot, Yao played a total of 12 minutes over the course of the first and second quarters. He finished with three points – all on free-throws – and three rebounds.
 
His counterpart, Dwight Howard, had 19 points, 12 boards and three blocks to pace the Magic.
 
Elsewhere, John Wall, the first overall pick in last June’s NBA draft, got his pro career off to a great start by leading the Washington Wizards past the Dallas Mavericks 97-94.
 
The 20-year-old point guard had 21 points, nine assists and four steals in the winning cause. China’s Yi Jianlian had 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
 
Turkey star forward Hedo Turkoglu had a tough time in his debut with the Phoenix Suns, finishing with just two points in a 109-95 loss against the Sacramento Kings.
 
Turkoglu missed all five of his field goal attempts in 15 minutes of play. Slovenian guard Goran Dragic had 10 points off the Suns bench but turned the ball over six times.
 
Tyreke Evans, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, led the Kings with 26 points and five assists.
 
FIBA