Mavs raise manner, Heat play like champs
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The celebration didn't last long.
The Dallas Mavericks unfurled their 2010-11 championship banner in a pregame ceremony Christmas Day, then were utterly dismantled, 105-94, by a duly motivated Miami Heat squad.
For the Heat, the whooping was a measure of revenge after June's six-game NBA Finals defeat at the hands of the Mavs. LeBron James, largely maligned for his underwhelming Finals performance, dominated on Sunday, pouring in 37 points and going 15-of-19 from the foul line. Dwyane Wade added 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists, as the Heat led by as many as 35.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jason Terry scored 23 points, while Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki finished with 21. Shawn Marion had 12 points and Jason Kidd chipped in nine.
Key offseason acquisition Lamar Odom scored just four points and was ejected in the third quarter for arguing a charging call. Delonte West and Vince Carter, also new additions to the Mavs, finished with 10 and five points, respectively.