LeBron James scored 18 points in a triumphant pre-season debut for the NBA's Miami Heat on Tuesday but star guard Dwyane Wade suffered a right hamstring strain in a 105-89 home victory over Detroit.
LeBron James scored 18 points in a triumphant pre-season debut for the NBA's Miami Heat on Tuesday but star guard Dwyane Wade suffered a right hamstring strain in a 105-89 home victory over Detroit.
All eyes have been on the Heat since James joined the club in July, making what is expected to be a formidable NBA force alongside Wade and fellow newcomer Chris Bosh when the season begins in three weeks.
But the superstar trio lasted only 3:17 before Wade limped off the floor to the locker room for a medical evaluation on a hamstring that had troubled him for several days, having scoring only two points in the exhibition opener.
"Like I told him, if we're going to have an injury, I'd rather have it now than to have it when we really get started," James said.
James, the NBA Most Valuable Player the past two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, responded by scoring 12 points in the first quarter and 14 points in the first half while Bosh added 12 to spark Miami to a 58-38 half-time lead.
"We competed, definitely defensively, which allowed us to get what we want, to get out and run," James said of the first half.
"We've got a lot of speed, a lot of quickness, and when you play defense like we did, holding an opponent under 40 percent shooting, we can do that."
The Heat pulled away to a huge lead before allowing the Pistons to close the gap in the final minutes, James pleased that the team improved and stayed together even after losing Wade early.
"I like the fact that we got better," James said. "We didn't waste an opportunity to get better. That's what it's about."
Bosh finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed six rebounds while Udonis Haslem contributed 14 points for Miami. Ben Gordon led Detroit with 17 points.
Playmaker James treated Miami supporters to the dynamic moves he displayed for the Cavaliers, 3-point shots, spectacular drives to the hoop, slam dunk set-ups and passes to teammates without looking their way.
"As a basketball player, as a guy who loves basketball, I'm excited for the season to be back around. I'm very happy about that," James said.
"You can tell it's an exciting time for this city and hopefully we can come through and do things we need to do on the court to keep the fans excited."
A packed-house crowd, far more than what the Heat drew last season as a struggling club, roared for James when he was introduced for the first time as a Miami player.
The Pistons became the first of many NBA clubs to take aim at the Heat, whose attention has overshadowed even that of the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers.
"They know everybody's going to be gunning at them," said Detroit center Ben Wallace. "I heard them say that they know they put the bulls-eye on their back. That helps you to focus, stay on your toes, stay on top of your game."
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