KOBE Bryant scored 33 points as defending champions Los Angeles Lakers opened the new NBA season with a 99-92 win over city rivals the Clippers.

Diamond-encrusted gold rings were given to last year’s team and the 2008-09 championship banner was unveiled.

Boston defeated Cleveland 95-89, spoiling the eagerly-anticipated debut of Shaquille O’Neal for the Cavaliers.

Britain’s Pops Mensah-Bonsu went scoreless on his Houston Rockets debut, in a loss to Portland Trail Blazers.

London-born Mensah-Bonsu, who signed from Toronto during the off-season, played four minutes and three seconds for the Rockets, who are without injured stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

Bryant was one of the few Lakers to take his championship ring out of its box.

But he said: “I never wear them except for the night that I get them. I do that and then I go home and put them in a vault.”

Seven-foot Lakers centre Andrew Bynum celebrated his 22nd birthday with 26 points, while Lamar Odom started in place of injured Spanish star Pau Gasol.

Cleveland showcased their new pairing of O’Neal, who joined from Phoenix Suns in June, and last year’s league Most Valuable Player LeBron James.

But they were overshadowed by Boston’s reunited big three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and a fit-again Kevin Garnett, who scored 13 points in his first regular-season game since last March.

Orlando, surprise finalists last season, hosted Philadelphia last night.

They have brought in veteran playmaker Vince Carter as one of five new players to join Dwight Howard at the Magic.

Chicago, who beat Utah in a pre-season clash at London’s O2 Arena earlier this month, begin their season today against San Antonio.

The Bulls will be boosted by the return to fitness of British-raised forward Luol Deng, who suffered a leg injury towards the end of last season.

But they will be without London-born guard Ben Gordon, who signed a free-agent contract with Detroit worth around £34.2m over five years, and is set to make his debut for the Pistons against Memphis. (BBC Sport)