NBA: Miami Heat to host season opener

LeBron James and the Miami Heat will open the 2013-14 National Basketball Association season at home against the Chicago Bulls, the NBA announced on Tuesday.

The two-time defending champions will be presented with their championship rings in South Florida before the game with Chicago, who should have Derrick Rose back from injury, on October 29.

The game is the first leg of a double-header to open the 68th NBA season. The second game will be an all-Los Angeles affair when the Clippers, now under the guidance of Doc Rivers, play the Lakers.

Miami will play the San Antonio Spurs, last season's other NBA finalists, at home on January 26 then in Texas on March 6.

For the first time there will be two regular season games played overseas. The Spurs will play the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 4 in Mexico City while the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks meet on January 16 in London.

Image: LeBron James

Photograph: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images