Champion Spurs open with rings, victory

The San Antonio Spurs tried on their dazzling championship rings for the first time Tuesday night, while Oklahoma City was doing its best to make the New Orleans Hornets feel at home.

Opening night in the NBA featured four games, including a championship ceremony in San Antonio, the Hornets' first "home" game in Oklahoma City, Maurice Cheeks' return to Philadelphia and a rematch of last year's conference semifinals between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

The Spurs put the final touch on last season's championship with a ring ceremony and unveiling of a new banner in the SBC Center. One by one, the Spurs were handed a custom-made, diamond-studded ring before the tipoff against the Denver Nuggets.

Strobe lights flashed and music filled the arena as Spurs fans - some waving makeshift championship rings of cardboard and foil - clapped and cheered during the roughly 10-minute ceremony. San Antonio didn't disappoint its fans, winning the opener 102-91.

While the Spurs were celebrating their second title in three seasons, Oklahoma City welcomed the displaced Hornets with a street party featuring live bands, jugglers, face-painters and interactive NBA events.

Uprooted from Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets are playing 35 regular-season home games at the Ford Center and may return to their home city next season after the New Orleans Arena is repaired.

More than 19,000 fans were on hand - a sellout - to see the Hornets rout the Sacramento Kings 93-67. They started pulling free, limited-edition white T-shirts over their heads after the public address announcer said a national audience would be watching - and they should let the world know "Oklahoma City is for real".

The Hornets got a standing ovation when they ran onto the court for pre-game warmups to the words: "Here come your Hornets!" Mayor Mick Cornett and Hornets owner George Shinn then addressed the crowd.

"We are so pleased to have the Hornets in Oklahoma City," Cornett said. "And to the citizens of New Orleans, you are in our thoughts and our prayers, and we wish you a speedy recovery." Philadelphia opened its season against the Milwaukee Bucks with the popular Cheeks making his 76ers' coaching debut, 23 years after leading the franchise to the NBA title.

The Sixers brought back former teammates Julius Erving, Moses Malone and former assistant coach Chuck Daly to support Cheeks' Philadelphia homecoming.

"When I see Maurice on the sidelines, I see a little bit of Chuck Daly," Erving said. "If he can have that type of success, maybe the Hall of Fame could be next." The fans surely haven't forgotten, giving Cheeks a rousing standing ovation before the opener against Milwaukee. A nostalgia wave has swept the usually fickle faithful since Cheeks was hired to replace Jim O'Brien in May.

While Cheeks and Bucks coach Terry Stotts made their debuts, it was only part of a sideline makeover: With a new dress code in effect, injured players like Philadelphia forwards Michael Bradley and Shavlik Randolph donned suits for the occasion.

Andrew Bogut, the NBA's No. 1 draft pick who was college player of the year at Utah last season, started for the Bucks and had 13 points and nine rebounds. T.J. Ford, who sat out the 2004-05 season after undergoing cervical spine surgery, had 16 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds in the 117-108 overtime victory.

"There's no limitations at all," Stotts said. "I know there's a lot of concern and interest, but from our perspective, he's 100 percent been cleared. He's ready to go and he's quick as ever."