Miami Heat Visit Dallas Mavericks: Game 1 Preview

The last time the two teams met, it was Game six of the NBA Finals. The Heat had taken two of three to open the series before being set down in three straight to end their quest for the Championship, as Dallas won 105-95. Jason Terry led all scorers with 27 points off the bench for Dallas with Dirk Nowitzki tossing in 21 points and 11 boards. LeBron James led Miami with 21 points, as four others also scored in double figures for the Heat.

NBA Finals 2011: Dallas Mavericks Vs Miami Heat Game 6 Highlights (4-2) Dallas Champions (via NBAHiighlights)

Miami split a home-and-home series with the Orlando Magic to prepare for the season. They took a 118-85 victory in Miami then lost 104-100 in Orlando.

NBA Preseason Miami Heat Vs Orlando Magic Game Recap 12/21/2011 (via NBAHiighlights)

Dallas prepared for the season by dropping two against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a round robin series. In Dallas, they dropped a 106-92 decision, then in Oklahoma City made it interesting with a 87-83 loss.

NBA CIRCLE - Dallas Mavericks Vs Oklahoma City Thunder Highlights Preseason 20/12/2011 (via NBACIRCLE)

All-Time Series: 20-29

Game Time: 2:30 EST

Current Line: Miami by -3 1/2

Season Series: 0-0

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Standings

Miami Heat: 0-0, tied for first in the Southeast Division, the Eastern Conference, and the NBA.

Dallas Mavericks: 0-0, tied for first in the Southwest Division, the Western Conference, and the NBA.

Probable Starters:

Miami Heat

PG - Mario Chalmers

SG - Dwyane Wade

SF - LeBron James

PF - Chris Bosh

C - Joel Anthony

Dallas Mavericks

PG - Jason Kidd

SG - Vince Carter

SF - Shawn Marion

PF - Dirk Nowitzki

C - Brendan Haywood

Common Thread:

Miami forward Juwan Howard played in 130 games over three seasons with the Mavericks, scoring nine points and five rebounds in 23 minutes per game.

Mavs forward Shawn Marion played in 58 games over two seasons with the Heat, scoring 13 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes per game.

Mavs forward Lamar Odom played 80 games for Miami in 2003-04, scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes per game.

Team Milestones:.

With four more 3-pointers, Mario Chalmers will move past Keith Atkins into eighth place, with 276.

12 more field goals for Udonis Haslem will move him into sixth place all-time past Eddie Jones with 2,142.

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Team Leaders: (2010-11)

PPG:

LeBron James 26.7

Dwyane Wade 25.5

Chris Bosh 18.7

RPG:

Chris Bosh 8.3

LeBron James 7.5

Dwyane Wade 6.4

APG:

LeBron James 7.0

Dwyane Wade 4.6

Mario Chalmers 2.5

SPG:

LeBron James 1.6

Dwyane Wade 1.5

Mario Chalmers 1.1

BPG:

Joel Anthony 1.2

Dwyane Wade 1.1

Erick Dampier 0.9