NBA: Heat and Celtics to kick off the 2012-13 season

The Miami Heat will begin the 2012-13 NBA season by raising their championship banner at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Shortly after the initial festivities, the Boston Celtics will try to ruin the celebration. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel cites a league source that says the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics will start the 2012-13 NBA season on October 30, which will feature, among many other storylines, former Celtic Ray Allen, now a member of the Heat, facing off against his former team right from the get-go. Allen, who entered the off-season as a free agent, chose to take less money to join the Heat, instead of re-signing with Boston. Winderman also reports that the popular Christmas Day NBA match-up will be a rematch of the NBA Finals, with the Heat hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder. In addition to Ray Allen, the Miami Heat also inked his former Seattle Supersonics teammate Rashard Lewis, adding even more three-point shooting to their arsenal. The Celtics on the other hand, bolstered their line-up with the likes of Jason Terry and Courtney Lee, while keeping Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass. Miami also figures to play two preseason games in China against the Los Angeles Clippers. - AMD, GMA News