Shaq, Heat off to good start after pasting Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Shaquille O'Neal made his debut with Miami and had his way against a familiar face from the Heat's recent past — Alonzo Mourning: Shaq shot 7-for-9 and finished with 16 points in a 100-77 victory Wednesday night over the New Jersey Nets.

It was anything but a dominant debut in black for O'Neal, who was acquired over the summer from the Los Angeles Lakers for three starters and a first-round draft pick.

O'Neal and Mourning both had successful nights: O'Neal because his team won; Mourning because the former Miami center was able to play less than a year after undergoing a kidney transplant.

Mourning finished with seven points, five rebounds and four fouls in 14 minutes for a gutted Nets team that's a shadow of the squad that reached the NBA Finals two of the past three years.

Former starters Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles were traded for draft picks over the summer, and Jason Kidd is beginning the season on the injured list after undergoing knee surgery.

Richard Jefferson had 19 points to lead New Jersey.

O'Neal had only six points and three rebounds in the first half, missing his first shot, making his next three and missing his last.

RAPTORS 95, ROCKETS 88: At Toronto, Chris Bosh had 20 points and Toronto handed Tracy McGrady and Houston their second straight loss. Houston's duo of McGrady and Yao Ming improved from their poor performance against the Pistons on Tuesday, but not enough to save the Rockets. McGrady scored 21 points, but only two after the third quarter. Yao, who had just seven points against Detroit, finished with 17. Vince Carter, who asked for a trade this summer, added 16 points and six assists for the Raptors to help Sam Mitchell win in his first game as Toronto's coach.

SPURS 101, KINGS 85: At San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 30 points and Brent Barry made three 3-pointers in his Spurs debut, leading San Antonio over Sacramento. San Antonio led by 21 in the fourth quarter before the Kings went on an 11-0 run, capped by an alley-oop dunk by Chris Webber, to cut the difference to 93-83 with three minutes remaining. Manu Ginobili and Barry then made 3-pointers and ex-Jazzman Tony Massenburg hit a high-arching turnaround jumper to end the spurt. The Spurs improved to 8-0 in season openers since Duncan joined the team in 1997.

Ginobili finished with 24 points, and Barry had 16 on 6-for-9 shooting. Duncan had 14 rebounds, and Rasho Nesterovic added 12 boards.