The Boston Celtics spoiled the opening act of LeBron James's latest quest for a NBA title by defeating the Miami Heat 88-80 in a highly anticipated match-up of Eastern Conference powerhouses.

?Miami Heat forward LeBron James talks with teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh while trailing the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. [SINA.com]

James, the two-time MVP who signed with the Heat as a free agent in the off-season after seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, scored 31 points but had eight turnovers in the season-opener for both teams.

Boston held a comfortable 60-45 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter but James scored nine points during a 12-3 Miami run that cut the Celtics' lead to 63-57.

Miami trimmed their deficit to 68-64 but a lay-in by Glen Davis and a three-pointer by Paul Pierce hiked the lead to 73-64.

James made a driving lay-up with 1:10 left to cut the Heat's deficit to 83-80 but Allen responded with a three-pointer from the corner to hike the lead to 86-80 with 49 seconds remaining and send the crowd into a frenzy.

The Celtics, who shot better and played with greater energy until a second-half cold spell, were paced in scoring by Allen, who finished with 20 points, and Pierce, who had 19.

James and Chris Bosh, a free agent who also signed in the off-season with Miami, joined Heat veteran Dwyane Wade with the hope of leading the franchise to its first title since 2006.

While James played well in spots, Wade and Bosh were nothing short of awful at a raucous, sold-out Boston Garden, shooting a combined seven of 27 from the floor.

Wade finished with 13 points on four of 16 shooting with six turnovers, while Bosh, who left Toronto for Miami, scored eight points on three of 11 from the field.

The Celtics held the Heat to nine first-quarter points and led 45-30 at halftime as Wade, who missed almost all of the preseason with a right hamstring injury, misfired on eight of 10 shots and Bosh seven of eight.

Miami shot 61 percent in the third quarter to get back in the game and suppress, at least temporarily, the endless chants of "over-rated, over-rated" from the crowd.

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo scored only four points but had 17 assists for the Eastern Conference champions.

Boston will visit the Cavaliers today, while the Heat will be in Philadelphia to face the 76ers.