Thomas learns breaks of game
He later left the game with 7:43 remaining after breaking his nose.
''I mean, that's a good story to tell; you can't forget that one: first game, first broken nose,'' an upbeat Thomas said, taped nose and all. ''Welcome to the life, young fella.''
Thomas, who wasn't sure who hit him (it was James Posey), did travel with the team to Orlando, where the Bulls play the Magic tonight (6, Comcast SportsNet, 105.9-FM). But he may head to Chicago before the game to be fitted for a protective mask.
''I'm going to Orlando and am going to talk to some doctors and see what they can do,'' Thomas said. ''Whatever I've got to do to get back, that's no problem.''
Thomas finished his debut with four points (1-for-4 shooting), five rebounds and two blocks. His one hoop was a slam over Shaquille O'Neal.
''I didn't even know, I didn't pay any attention to it,'' he said of the jam. ''I'm not satisfied, but I thought I did fairly well staying active and executing on both ends of the floor, and being focused the entire time I was out there -- unlike the preseason, when I had spurts when I was focused and spurts when I wasn't.''
Guard Chris Duhon, who scored 20 points off the bench, also left the game early in the fourth quarter after he was kicked in his already- bruised right foot, which has been bothering him for two weeks.
''I don't plan on missing any games,'' Duhon said. ''It's just one of those things where it hurts real bad for a couple minutes. I kind of had a problem with it last year. I'm dealing more with the orthotics in my shoes. I'm probably going to put some padding in there.''
HE'S THE BOSS: Coach Pat Riley helped design the Heat's 10-karat championship rings, which were distributed in a pregame ceremony. ''The players had some input,'' Riley said. ''It's a big ring, but it's very elegant.''Dwyane Wade had one request of Riley when it came to the rings.
''I told him to make sure there was a lot of bling, a lot of ice,'' Wade told the Miami Herald.
WHO NEEDS TWO? Ben Wallace is listed as 6-9, but he told TNT on Tuesday that he's actually 6-7.