Butler ruled out of Heat opener for 'personal reasons'

Jimmy Butler was ruled out of Miami' s seasonopener against Memphis on Wednesday for what the team called "personal reasons."

Butler was with the team Wednesday morning for its game-day shootaround practice, and told the team that he wasn't going to be able to play around mid-afternoon.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says "everything's fine" and that there is no reason for concern over the Butler situation.

Butler was the big offseason acquisition for the Heat this past summer, agreeing to a four-year deal in a sign-andtrade with Philadelphia.

Miami was also without guard Dion Waiters for the opener, while he serves a onegame suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

Late Tuesday: Leonard leads Clippers over Lakers 112-102

Kawhi Leonard began a new chapter with the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 30 points to go with a strong bench effort in a 112-102 victory over

LeBron James and the Lakers on Tuesday night in the teams' season opener.

Lou Williams added 21 points and Montrezl Harrell had 17 off the bench when the Clippers opened their 50th season and 36th in Los Angeles as the once unlikely but now favorites to win the franchise's first NBA championship.

The Lakers showed off their new 1-2 punch of James and

Anthony Davis. Davis scored 25 points, making 9 of 14 free throws, and James had 18.

Danny Green outscored them both with 28 points.

But Leonard got it done without his personal recruit

Paul George, sidelined indefinitely while rehabbing from a pair of offseason shoulder surgeries.

Beverley fined $25,000

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for throwing a game ball into the stands.

Beverley threw the ball at the end of the Clippers' win on Tuesday night.