Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz (l) fights for a rebound with Andris Biedrins of the Golden State Warriors

Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 15 rebounds and Ronnie Brewer chipped in 18 points for the Jazz, who reached the Western Conference finals last season with a five-game victory over Golden State in the second round.
 
Five months later, the Jazz still had too many of the qualities lacked by the flashy Warriors, whose raucous sellout crowd was silenced well before the final buzzer.
 
Utah out rebounded the Warriors 56-37 and constantly capitalised on Golden State's mistakes.

The Jazz led through most of the final three quarters, then coolly turned back Baron Davis' attempts to start a fourth-quarter rally.

Davis had 25 points and 10 assists for the Warriors, who ended a 13-year playoff drought and upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks last season before bowing out to the Jazz.

Mickael Pietrus and Monta Ellis scored 17 points apiece.

Spurs 106, Trailblazers 97

The San Antonio Spurs got their title defence off to a successful start with victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Centre Tim Duncan started with the form he finished with last season with 24 points and 13 rebounds, he was aided by the back court duo of Tony Parker, 19 points, and Manu Ginobili who added 16 points and eight assists.

The Trailblazers were led by LaMarcus Aldridge with 27 points.

While Martell Webster added 21 and Joel Przybilla contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for Portland.

The game didn't really live up to its billing when it was first announced the Spurs would open against the Trail Blazers, who had drafted Greg Oden with the No. 1 overall pick.

Oden had microfracture knee surgery prior to preseason which ended his first season before it even began.

Rockets 95, Lakers 93

In Los Angeles, Shane Battier hit a match winning 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining, as Houston withstood a furious rally from Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bryant scored 45 points, 18 in the fourth quarter, in a rally that left the Lakers just short.

The Rockets gave new coach Rick Adelman's a winning debut as Tracy McGrady scored 30 points and Yao Ming had 25 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lakers returning recruit Derek Fisher scored 17 points.

His 3-pointer with 14 seconds left tied it at 92 after the Lakers trailed 77-63 with 7:58 left to play.

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