Game 5 NBA Finals: Mavs and Nowitzki Need Breathing Room Before Miami Trip
Thursday, June 09, 2011
By Gordon P. Quinn
Even with a fever approaching 102 degrees Fahrenheit, Dirk Nowitzki still had enough juice to complete another stunning Dallas Mavericks rally. The Mavs hope Nowitzki will be back at full strength tonight as they host the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Dallas' win Tuesday evened the best-of-seven at two wins apiece.
Dallas couldn't buy a basket in the fourth quarter of Game 4, so Nowitzki used his free-throw excellence to drag the Mavericks out of a nine-point deficit and into striking range. Struggling to catch his breath throughout the final period, Nowitzki mustered enough energy to hit the pivotal shot with 14.4 seconds remaining on the clock.
The Mavericks have opened as 1-point favorites on SBG Global’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
Dallas' suffocating defense took over from there, nearly creating a turnover on Miami's final possession before forcing the Heat to take a desperation 3-pointer that missed badly as time expired. Nowitzki had some help for a change, with four teammates scoring at least 11 points in the win.
If NBA games were 36-minute affairs, South Beach would be awash in champagne. The Heat have led entering the fourth quarter in all four games of the Finals, but another late meltdown Tuesday has turned the series into a best-of-three affair.
LeBron James did little on the offensive end, recording just eight points to finish short of double digits for the first time in his playoff career. Chris Bosh had a sensational first half but took several questionable shots after the break. Dwyane Wade was the offensive star with 32 points, but his fumble of a Mike Miller pass in the dying moments cost Miami a chance at a decent game-tying shot.
Mavericks F Shawn Marion gave Dallas the offensive boost it needed on a night when the basket seemed smaller than ever. He finished with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting while continuing to play his trademark stifling defense on Wade and James. Miami G Mario Chalmers hit four 3-pointers in Game 3 but was invisible Tuesday night, missing all three of his long-range attempts.
And while James has come under increased scrutiny for his passive play, Nowitzki is cementing his reputation by overcoming injury and illness to rally the Mavs to victories in two of the last three games. And if Lebron is all about “decision”, he has indeed played no part in deciding the outcome of the four games in the Finals so far.
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The Pick: Dallas Mavericks
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chris bosh - dallas mavericks - dirk nowitzki - dwyane wade - lebron james - mario chalmers - miami heat - mike miller - nba finals - shawn marion
