San Antonio Spurs Awarded the NBA Championship Rings, Victorious against Portland Trailblazers on Opening Night (106-97)

Tim Duncan scored 24 points and grabbed 13 boards as the San Antonio Spurs got a successful start on the opening night.  The Spurs were victorious against the Portland Trailblazers on their season opener.
Manu Ginobili chipped in 16 points and 8 assists and Finals MVP Tony Parker added 19 points for the Spurs.
Big man Greg Oden who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Trail Blazers will sit out his entire rookie season due to a knee injury.  Lamarcus Aldridge led the Oden-less Trail Blazers with 27 points.  Martell Webster added 21 points while big man Joel Przybilla contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.

Before the season opener started, NBA Commissioner David Stern awarded the San Antonio Spurs their NBA championship rings.  The Spurs swept the Finals series against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. The Spurs won four NBA titles in the last nine seasons.
The championship rings – handmade with 14 karat gold encrusted with 4.5 carats diamonds were handed to the coaching staff and players in alphabetical order.  Spurs stalwart Duncan received his fourth championship ring while teammate Robert Horry got his seventh ring.  Veteran Michael Finley accepted the first championship ring of his career.

-fouledout