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Ringing victory

LeBron James (6) keeps defensive heat on Boston’s Courtney Lee during first half. (Associated Press)
LeBron James (6) keeps defensive heat on Boston’s Courtney Lee during first half. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

LeBron James got his ring, then got cramps. The Miami Heat found a way to beat their biggest rival anyway.

Dwyane Wade scored 29 points, James finished 26 points and 10 rebounds while missing much of the second half, and the reigning NBA champion Heat beat the visiting Boston Celtics 120-107 on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Ray Allen, in his first game with Miami since leaving Boston over the summer, added 19 points for the Heat, as did Chris Bosh, who had a late flurry that helped Miami prevail.

Rashard Lewis scored 10 for Miami, which saw a 19-point lead trimmed to four in the final minutes before finding a way to close it out – even while James, last season’s MVP of both the regular season and NBA Finals, was in the locker room for the second time because of the cramps.

Paul Pierce scored 23 points, Rajon Rondo finished with 20 points and 13 assists, and Leandro Barbosa scored 16 for Boston. The Celtics, who lost to the Heat in last season’s Eastern Conference finals, were not on the court for the ring ceremony.

They almost wrecked the festive mood with a late comeback.

An 11-2 run late in the fourth quarter got Boston within 111-107 on Courtney Lee’s layup with 2:09 left. That was the last Celtics hurrah – Bosh scored the game’s next seven points, sealing it for Miami.

• Mavericks down Lakers: Darren Collison scored 17 points, Brandan Wright added 14, and the Dallas Mavericks spoiled the Lakers debuts of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash with a 99-91 victory over host Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant scored 22 points while playing on an injured right foot for the Lakers.

Howard had 19 points and 10 rebounds while missing 11 of his 14 free throws before fouling out with 2:02 to play.

Nash managed just seven points and four assists with seemingly little to do in the new offensive scheme.

• Irving leads Cleveland win: Kyrie Irving scored 29 points, Anderson Varejao had a career-high 23 rebounds and Cleveland opened the season with a home win over short-handed Washington.

Jordan Crawford scored 11 points to lead the Wizards, who were without star point guard John Wall, power forward Nene and forward Kevin Seraphin.