Star player Dirk Nowitzki, team owner Mark Cuban and the rest of the Dallas Mavericks can finally celebrate. After a string of frustrating finishes to close previous seasons, the NBA title finally resides in Dallas. Nowitzki and the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 105-95 June 12 to win the NBA Finals four games to two and capture their first title in franchise history.
Forward Nowitzki (21 points) started off slow, making just four of his first 21 attempts, but his 10 points fourth-quarter helped Dallas build a lead that they would never relinquish.
Reserve guard Jason Terry led Dallas with 27 points and his clutch shooting in the first half kept the Mavericks in the game even though Nowitzki struggled with his shooting. The Heat’s Big Three, consisting of guard Dwyane Wade and forwards LeBron James and Chris Bosh, combined for 57 points but neither James nor Wade could put their imprint on the game.
Playing from behind for most of the night, the Heat trio, along with the rest of their teammates, found themselves pressing, shooting 60 percent from the free-throw line and 30 percent from three-point range.
With the Mavericks (11-for-26 from three point range) hitting seemingly every three-pointer they launched, Dallas kept the normally stingy Miami defense scrambling. And with their three-pointers falling, Dallas sat back and watched the Heat collapse on their home floor.
Dallas avenged their 2006 Finals collapse against the Heat, a series that the Mavericks led 2-0 before Miami won four straight. What followed next for the Mavericks was a series of disappointing finishes, including losing in the first round in the 2007 playoffs after finishing with the best record in the league with Nowitzki winning his first MVP award. After a long road to redemption, the Dallas Mavericks can finally celebrate.
“I still can’t believe it,” Nowitzki said afterwards. “We worked so hard and so long for it. The team has been unbelievable, riding through ups and downs and always staying together and working…I still can’t believe it.”
