San Antonio's Tim Duncan (21) defends Portland's Sergio Rodriguez. The Spurs defeated the Trail Blazers, 106-97, in the first game of the NBA season Tuesday night in San Antonio.

Spurs 106, Trail Blazers 97

San Antonio – Tim Duncan had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and San Antonio got its title defense off to a successful start with a victory over Portland.

Tony Parker added 19 points for the Spurs and Manu Ginobili had 16 points and eight assists.

LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 27 points. Martell Webster added 21, and Joel Przybilla contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for Portland.

Despite the long-awaited ring ceremony to kick things off, the game didn’t have quite the excitement that was anticipated when it was announced the Spurs would open against the Trail Blazers, who drafted Greg Oden with the No. 1 overall pick. Oden had microfracture knee surgery this summer, ending his first season before practice even began.

With Oden out, it only seemed appropriate that this night would be all about the Spurs.

And it was, with the Spurs controlling the game until the Trail Blazers threatened with about two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Aldridge’s basket brought the Blazers within three points, the closest they’d been all quarter, with 2:01 left.

Parker made it 100-95 for San Antonio, then a goaltending call against Aldridge gave Parker another basket, putting the Spurs up 102-95 with 1:07 to play.

Brandon Roy, last season’s Rookie of the Year, hit one of two free throws to make it 102-96. But another goaltending call, this time against Przybilla, gave Duncan a basket and the Spurs a 104-96 lead with 36 ticks on the clock.

Brent Barry had 12 points for San Antonio. Travis Outlaw scored 11 for Portland.

Also before the game, the team’s fourth championship banner was unveiled to deafening cheers from the sellout crowd.

Jazz 117, Warriors 96

Oakland, Calif. – Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 15 rebounds, Deron Williams added 24 points, and Utah jumped right back into last season’s playoff form with a victory over Golden State. Ronnie Brewer scored 18 points, and Paul Millsap added 16 for the Jazz, who reached the Western Conference finals last spring.

Rockets 95, Lakers 93

Los Angeles – Shane Battier made a tiebreaking three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left, and Houston withstood a furious rally from Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles.

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

Tracy McGrady scored 30 points, and Yao Ming had 25 points and 12 rebounds.