Dallas Mavericks Fall to Maimi: Lamar Odom Ejection Highlights Banner Sunday

Santa came and dropped off a championship banner at the American Airlines Center in Dallas before tip off.

But that was the only gift the Dallas Mavericks got this Christmas Day. The defending champions didn't get their title defense off they way they'd hoped, and they lost to the Miami Heat, 105-94. 

A day that began with an emotional championship banner celebration ended with the Heat stating their case for their own banner in 2012. 

LeBron James and Dwayne Wade combined for 63 points, and the Heat out-rebounded the Mavericks by an embarrassing 51-31 margin—15 of those on the offensive glass. 

The Mavs seemed disinterested and lacked the intensity to compete with the Heat during the early stages of the game. They fell behind by 15 after the first, 21 after the second and 32 at the end of the third. 

Major offseason addition Lamar Odom didn't exactly open up with a sparkling debut, either. He only scored four points and picked up two offensive fouls before being ejected after a scuffle in the third (via ESPN Dallas).

He and new additions Vince Carter and Delonte West also struggled for the new-look Mavs, who shot 37.8 percent from the floor, leaving fans wondering how much they will really miss departures Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea.

To make matters worse, Dirk Nowitzki couldn't buy a bucket—going 6-of-15 from the floor and missing several open shots he normally knocks down. He finished 9-of-10 from the free-throw line to salvage 21 points.

Jason Terry added 23 points in a late-game surge, although the game was never really in doubt.

The panic meter won't be too high in Dallas just yet: They have a chance to prove Monday against the Denver Nuggets that today was just an aberration after coming off the ultimate high in the form of the NBA championship.

Two things are clear after today's game, however. The Mavericks have a lot to work on to regain their title status, and the Heat are in midseason form. They look to be very tough to beat if they continue to click like they did Christmas day.