Celtics forward Paul Pierce left Tuesday's season opener against the Heat in the third quarter with what the team is calling back spasms.

Pierce left the game with eight points and seven rebounds on 2-for-7 shooting in 30 minutes of action.

The captain walked back to the locker room midway through the third, but came back out to the bench early in the fourth.

Pierce returned to a standing ovation around the ten-minute mark of the fourth quarter.