BOSTON — Banner No. 17 is up in the rafters, and win No. 1 is in the books.

NBA finals MVP Paul Pierce scored 27 points and the defending champion Boston Celtics followed an emotional ring ceremony and banner-raising with a 90-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers last night. LeBron James scored 22, but he missed a driving layup with 41 seconds left and two free throws in the last 11 seconds.

It was the Celtics' first game since beating the Los Angeles Lakers to clinch their record 17th NBA title, and Boston honored the 2007-08 team with a 20-minute ceremony that brought Pierce to tears.

The Celtics captain — and the longest-tenured member of the team — choked up when he was handed the championship trophy by Hall of Famer John Havlicek, and again when he received his ring from owner Wyc Grousbeck. Once all the players had received their gaudy diamond and emerald baubles, Pierce took the lead in pulling the ropes that slid the "2008 World Champions" banner into the rafters among all the others.

"It's moments like these that you cherish. Whenever you can raise that banner and grab that ring, and be there in front of the people closest to you, it's very emotional," Pierce said. "I'm just glad I pulled together in time so we could come out and play the game."

The Cavaliers chose to return to their locker room rather than watch, having been deprived of a chance for their first title when Boston eliminated them. But the Cleveland players were on the bench when Pierce addressed the fans before the game, and they also saw former stars Havlicek, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn get their rings between the first and second quarters.

"We congratulate them. They had a great season and we're happy for them," Cavs forward Anderson Varejao said. "Seeing that makes us hungry to go out and get a ring of our own."

There were two other games on the league's opening night, but there was only one place for NBA commissioner David Stern to be: in Boston, handing out the Celtics' rings.

"Only one team in the world can have this night, and it's us," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "But now I'm glad that we can concentrate on basketball."

LAKERS 96, TRAIL BLAZERS 76

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five assists to lead Los Angeles to a season-opening victory over Portland, spoiling Greg Oden's debut, which was cut short by another injury.

Oden's highly anticipated NBA debut didn't last long; the 20-year-old center left the game late in the first half with an injured right foot after taking four shots and going scoreless. He had five rebounds, one turnover, blocked one shot and picked up two fouls while playing 12:51.

The injury was diagnosed as a sprain and X-rays were negative. The 7-foot, 285-pounder said after the game that his foot was "tender" but that he's not really concerned. He will undergo an MRI today.

Oden, taken by Portland with the first pick in the 2007 draft, missed all last season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee.

BULLS 108, BUCKS 95

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose elicited oohs, aahs ... and groans.

Luol Deng and Ben Gordon provided enough big shots to lead the Chicago Bulls over former coach Scott Skiles and the Milwaukee Bucks in their season-opener.

Deng scored 21 points and Gordon added 18 to offset Michael Redd's 30.

Rose, the No. 1 draft pick out of Memphis and a Chicago native, wowed fans with his quickness and strength but mixed in enough mistakes to remind them he is a work in progress. He finished with 11 points, nine assists and four turnovers.