NBA season openers

In a glitzy ceremony, the Miami Heat raised its first NBA championship banner before Tuesday nights season opener against the Chicago Bulls. <br/><br/>Each Heat player, coach and key front office personnel

Tuesday, October 31st 2006, 8:06 pm

By: News On 6

In a glitzy ceremony, the Miami Heat raised its first NBA championship banner before Tuesday nights season opener against the Chicago Bulls.

Each Heat player, coach and key front office personnel received their championship rings handed to them personally by NBA coach David Stern.

The loudest cheers seemed reserved for young Heat star Dwyane Wade and veteran backup center Alonzo Mourning, who both earned their first championship. Coach Pat Riley also earned hearty cheers in his first title after taking over as coach in midseason and sparking the Heat. This is Riley's fifth career coaching title, but first since the LA Lakers in the late 1980s.

On the court, the visiting Bulls opened a 22-16 lead over the Heat after the 1st quarter.

Game 2 Tuesday evening takes place in Los Angeles, with the Lakers entertaining the Phoenix Suns. Lakers' all-star Kobe Bryant is expected to play after missing the entire preseason recovering from knee surgery.