CHICAGO (AP) Dwyane Wade scored 22 points in a triumphant Chicago debut and Jimmy Butler had 24 as the Bulls won their NBA season opener, beating the Boston Celtics 105-99 on Thursday.
Wade nailed a 3 from the corner in the final minute to make it a five-point game. Taj Gibson added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the new-look Bulls got off to a winning start after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2008.
Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 25 points. Avery Bradley had 16, and Jae Crowder 14 points, but the Celtics came up short after opening with a win over Brooklyn the previous night.
The Bulls remade their roster in the offseason, trading Derrick Rose to New York and signing Wade to a two-year deal worth about $47 million.
Wade, a three-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star, is off to a good start with the Bulls after 13 seasons with the Heat. He hit 4 of 6 3-pointers after making just seven all of last season.
Elsewhere, Dwight Howard grabbed 19 rebounds to go along with 11 points in his Atlanta debut and Paul Millsap added 28 points as the Hawks beat Washington 114-99.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 points and broke open a close game with back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks, who led only 81-80 heading to the final period, outscored the Wizards 33-19 over the final 12 minutes.
San Antonio spoiled the regular season opener at Sacramento’s new downtown arena, topping the Kings 102-94.
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points as the Spurs clamped down on defense in the second half and went on a 16-2 run to put the game away.
DeMarcus Cousins led Sacramento with 37 points and 16 rebounds.
Blake Griffin had 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-106 win at Portland in a contentious game that had fans booing the officials after two flagrant fouls on the Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter.
Chris Paul also finished with 27 points for the Clippers. Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 29 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late.
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