Mavs Lose Opener To Heat

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The Dallas Mavericks lost their season opener to the Miami Heat 105-94.

After a pre-game ceremony where the Mavericks raised their NBA Championship banner, Miami came out to spoil the evening for the home crowd.  Miami led by as many as 35 points in a game where they never trailed.  The game marked the fourth time in NBA history that the teams that met in the NBA Finals played each other to begin the following season. It also marked the fifth Finals rematch on Christmas Day in league history and the first on opening day since the Bulls and Jazz squared off to begin the 1998-99 season.

With the win, the Heat snapped a 14-game losing streak against the Mavericks in the regular season. Prior to today, the Heat had not defeated the Mavericks in the regular season since March 26, 2004. The Heat also ended a nine-game losing streak in Dallas.

With the loss, Dallas moved to 18-14 all-time in season-opening games and 19-13 in home openers.

Jason Terry (23) and Dirk Nowitzki (21) combined for 44 of Dallas’ 94 points in the contest. Shawn Marion (12) and Delonte West (10) were the other Mavericks that scored in double figures.

Lamar Odom made his Mavericks debut at the 5:38 mark of the first quarter with Dallas trailing, 11-8. He tied the game with a 3-pointer on the first possession following the substitution (assisted by Jason Terry, who checked in at the same time).  Odom was ejected in the 3rd period after receiving his second technical foul for arguing a call.  Odom scored 4 points, had 4 rebounds and 4 fouls.

The Heat outrebounded the Mavericks 51-31.

The Mavs have now sold out 400 consecutive regular season games at American Airlines Center, which is an NBA-best sellout streak. The streak began on Dec. 15, 2001 and Dallas has sold out an additional 47 playoff games during that stretch.

Dallas plays Denver tonight.