Game 6: Dallas Mavericks 105 Miami Heat 95
Dirk Nowitzki was overwhelmed as the final buzzer sounded – and it was hardly surprising given the night he had.
In the biggest game of his career, Nowitzki had a brutal first half – shooting 1-of-12 – but put those woes aside to hit the clutch shots that brought Dallas its first NBA championship and earned him the Finals MVP trophy. The heartbreak of 2006 was buried in the process.
All series long, the Miami “Big Three” hit the headlines but it was the Mavericks’ “Veteran Four” that had the last laugh as Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion finally got the rings that their stellar careers deserve. All four could have been forgiven for thinking their chance had been and gone.
For the Heat, a long summer of questions and scrutiny now awaits - and it could be even longer with a lockout looming. Dwyane Wade struggled in Game 6 but can hold his head high after leading the Heat throughout the Finals, but the fallout from LeBron James’ disappearing act will linger for months and years to come. That’s the scrutiny that comes from holding a parade before the season starts.
On this night, Nowitzki admitted his rhythm was off but the teamwork that has oozed from the Mavericks’ huddle this season was enough to carry them over the line. Terry led the way with 27 points, Nowitzki rebounded in the second half to add 21 on 9-of-27 shooting and J.J. Barea poured in a bonus 15 points.
For Miami, four players scored 17 points or more but it was not enough, in part because they shot 60% (20-of-33) at the free-throw line.
From the opening tip, the building sensed that the Heat would bounce back. James’ start certainly brought a smile to coach Erik Spoelstra’s face as he knocked down his first four shots. The swagger was back – temporarily, at least. He would miss his next three.
Meanwhile, Nowitzki has carried a heavy load for Dallas throughout the Playoffs but in the first quarter he ran into foul trouble for the first time in the series. With the Heat up by five points, the Mavericks needed others to step up.
For Dallas fans, it was an early scare. Sure, they believed that Nowitzki could play the part of hero against the “Heatles” but with Dirk sat down, what now?
The answer came from first Terry, then DeShawn Stevenson as the Mavericks jumped into a 12-point lead. The crowd was silenced but not for long as Miami launched a ferocious 14-0 run in response, led by Eddie House and Wade, to regain the lead.
The momentum was only broken when Stevenson, Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers sparked a skirmish with 6:25 left in the second quarter that brought both sets of players onto the court and caused a lengthy delay.
But the biggest surprise in a first half full of twists and turns was that the Mavericks headed for the locker room at the half with a 53-51 lead despite Nowitzki’s struggles. Presented with plenty of shots in his sweetspots, he clunked to 1-of-12 shooting. Terry bailed him out, drilling jumpers on his way to an 8-of-10 start.
And it was the Mavericks who made the better start in the second half, playing through Nowitzki and profiting from the flat out effort of Marion and Tyson Chandler, another huge presence all year. Meanwhile, the crowd waited in vain for James to have the kind of breakout performance that reminded fans why he is considered the greatest player in the world.
But in this game of runs, no advantage seemed to have a lasting effect. Dallas kept their noses in front throughout the third quarter by riding their defence and getting offense from unlikely sources – a Jason Kidd 3-ball with the shot clock winding down and Ian Mahinmi’s buzzer-beating jumper to end the quarter, for instance.
Carlisle would have dreamt about taking a nine-point lead into the final 12 minutes and got his wish as the Mavericks jumped ahead 81-72. Miami have plenty of comebacks on their post-season resume but the body language said they might have used up all nine lives.
In the words of LeBron, it was “now or never”. Put up or shut up. But while Miami got a turnover off Wade’s foot and a jumper from James that wasn’t even close, the Mavericks found huge shots from Terry and the wily Barea, pushing the lead to 12.
But back came the Heat as Chalmers and Chris Bosh completed 3-point plays. Dallas’ resolve was tested one final time. What did the resourceful Mavericks have left up their sleeve?
One answer. Nowitzki. Forget the rough shooting night, forget the memories of 2006, the ring was in sight. Just as he had against the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in the Playoffs, he hit two huge clutch jump shots, pushing the Mavericks into a 99-89 lead and to the brink of victory with just over two minutes remaining.
And as the clock ticked down, Miami just ran out of answers. For Dallas, this was their time. The critics said Nowitzki couldn't lead a team to a title and that this group was too old to win it all. Wrong on both counts. They held firm, buried the ghosts of 2006 and brought a first NBA championship to the franchise.
Though the temptation is to focus on the Heat’s failure to win a series in which they were heavily favoured, that would be doing the gritty Mavericks a disservice. As Carlisle admitted, Dallas knew the basketball world was cheering them on and they did not disappoint. With beaming veterans finally reaching the Promised Land, this was as close to a feel good story as the game could have served up.
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