NBA: Cavaliers begin 2012-13 NBA season with win over Wizards

The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, opened up the 2012-13 NBA season with a 94-84 win over the visiting Washington Wizards, Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time). The Cavaliers led by as much as 16 points, 61-45, after a steal and a dunk by rookie Dion Waiters, 8:33 left in the third period, but the Wizards used a 14-0 run to bridge the last two quarters, as they took the lead on a triple by Jannero Pargo, 76-74, 8:12 remaining to play. Waiters, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, then got the lead back for Cleveland for good, with a triple off an Alonzo Gee assist. A pair of charities by Jordan Crawford got Washington within four points, 88-84, 1:49 on the clock, but the Cavaliers closed out the game with six straight points. Iriving tallied 29 points in 34 minutes, with six rebounds and three assists as well to his name. Center Anderson Varejao just missed a triple-double, finishing with nine points, 23 rebounds and nine assists. Those 23 boards, 12 on the offensive glass, were career-highs for the Brazilian. Waiters added 17 points on 14 shots in his professional debut. Washington, which was without former number one overall pick John Wall and big men Kevin Seraphin and Nene, were led by Crawford's 11 points off the bench. Emeka Okafor was the only other player for them in double figures, scoring 10 and hauling down seven boards. 2012 third overall pick Bradley Beal started, and finished with eight points. Former PBA import Earl Barron logged minutes down the stretch for Washington, also scoring eight, to go with his eight rebounds. - AMD, GMA News