It s a series again.
Dirk Nowitzki spun past Heat forward Chris Bosh and banked in a layup with 3.6 seconds left to give the Dallas Mavericks a dramatic 95-93 victory Thursday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Nowitzki s heroics capped an unlikely comeback that tied this best-of-7 series at 1-1 and sent it to Dallas with momentum suddenly favoring the Mavericks.
Entering this series, it seemed nothing could top the craziness that was the Heat s comeback in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. Then Thursday happened. The Heat led by 15 points with 7:14 left before the Mavericks reeled off a 17-2 run to tie the score at 90 with 57 second remaining.
Nowitzki s three-pointer gave the Mavs a 93-90 lead with 26 seconds left before Heat reserve Mario Chalmers tied the score with a three-pointer from the corner. That set the stage for Nowitzki s final drive of the game.
I got caught up in trying to stop his drive and that s what he wanted, Bosh said. For a split second I played bad defense and it cost us two points.
Dwyane Wade missed a desperation 40-footer as time expired. Playing with a torn ligament in his left middle finger, Nowitzki scored 24 points, making 10 of 22 shots, to go along with 11 rebounds.
I played with Bird for three years when he was the best player in the world, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.
Guys like that don t feel pain right now.
Poor shot selection by the Heat helped the Mavs inch their way back into the game. The Heat missed four three-point attempts in the final 90 seconds of the game, including two in a row by LeBron James with the Heat clinging to a two-point lead.
Offensively, that s so uncharacteristic for us at the end of the game to not be able to execute and move the ball and find an open shot, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Our offensive was inefficient enough to spark them and give them some easy baskets.
The Heat forced 20 turnovers Thursday, and its 31 points off turnovers set a postseason record. Miami s defense was at its maniacal best to begin the fourth quarter. Whirling, swirling, blocking, stealing the Heat held the Mavericks to 1 of 9 shooting with six turnovers to begin the final 12 minutes.
The fourth-quarter run a 13-2 edge for the Heat put Miami ahead by 15 with 7:14 left. Just when it appeared the Heat had firm control of the game and the series, Dallas responded with a 15-2 run, cutting its deficit to 90-88 with 2:45 left.
The Heat s brilliant effort to the begin the fourth quarter was all for naught. Dallas countered with a knockout punch of its own to steal home-court advantage.
Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 36 points, making 13 of 20 shots from the field. James had 20 points and eight rebounds. Bosh had 12 points (4 of 16 shooting). Dallas won the rebounding battle 41-30.
Mavericks forward Shawn Marion had 20 points (9 of 14 shooting).
We always believe we can comeback no matter what the score is, Marion said. It s a good feeling now. We go back home and got one game here.
The Heat entered the fourth quarter with a four-point lead but the advantage quickly swelled to six after back-to-back defensive stops by the Heat triggered two fast-break field goals. First, a steal by Chalmers led to a powerful dunk by Wade in transition. The Heat forced a shot-clock violation on Dallas next possession. This time, Chalmers dashed to the lane on a fast break to give the Heat a 79-73 lead.
Dallas called a timeout to cool the Heat, but it didn t work. The Heat forced a turnover, and Wade turned the mistake into two free throws to give Miami an eight-point lead.
A three-pointer by Mike Bibby gave the Heat a 69-61 lead with 3:44 left in the third quarter and forced Carlisle to call a timeout. It was Bibby s second three-pointer of the quarter and fourth in the game. After struggling offensively throughout the playoffs, Bibby finished with 14 points (5 of 8 shooting).
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