2011 NBA Finals; Dirk, Mavericks Make Key Plays Late, Stun Miami

When it's 88-73 in Miami, the Heat are winning, and about six minutes remain on the clock, you know the game is over. Especially when all the momentum is on their side.

All of those were factors.

And yet Dallas won.

Dirk Nowitzki's layup with 3.6 seconds left gave the Mavericks a 95-93 win over the Heat to regain home-court for the Mavericks. Three wins at home in the next three games would give the Mavericks the NBA Finals.

Nowitzki scored the last nine for Dallas, a jumper, a left-handed layup, a three, and the game-winning bucket. However, Dirk finished with only 24, while D-Wade racked up 36 for Miami.

Down 90-81, Dirk was in a double-team, so he kicked it out to Jason Kidd, who nailed a three. On the next Maverick possession, Jason Terry stepped up and nailed a jumper, and Dirk followed with a j of his own.

All the momentum was on Dallas's side, but Miami still had the home crowd. After two offensive rebounds on a long possession, Dallas finally got the ball, and a fastbreak too.

On the fastbreak, Shawn Marion was dribbling it up the court and getting ready to finish before he dished it to Dirk, who made a left-handed layup. After Miami failed to score, Dirk made another huge play.

Dirk got the ball from the left wing, where Tyson Chandler was screening for him. Dirk decided to use the screen and shoot, and he shot the ball. It looked good...and it was! Dallas was finally on top!

They thought they had the game locked up, but Jason Terry changed that. Instead of guarding Mario Chalmers, who was wide open, he hung around the middle, while LeBron James passed to Chalmers, who drained a three. The score was 93-93.

On the last possession, who would Dallas give it to? Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk knew he needed to score and make a play for Dallas, so he spun on Chris Bosh, put up a layup, and the layup was good. Dwyane Wade missed a three at the buzzer.

Jason Terry and Shawn Marion combined for 36 to aid Dirk and the Mavericks, who have gone from third seed facing a tough matchup to home-court in the NBA Finals.

D-Wade scored 36, and LeBron added 20 for Miami, but Chris Bosh only scored 12, as the Big Three scored 72 percent of the team's points. Bosh will need to step up for Miami to steal at least one from Dallas to take back home-court.

Game 3 is Sunday night in Dallas.

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