Dallas Mavs beat Miami Heat 105 to 95 to win NBA Championship

[News_Editor]

Dallas Mavs beat Miami Heat 105 to 95 to win NBA Championship

2011-06-13 20:38:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIAMI, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) -- The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat 105 to 95 on Sunday night to become the 2011 NBA Champions for the first time in their 31-year franchise history.

The Mavericks won the sixth game of the series in Miami's American Airlines Arena to win the finals series four games to two, as German superstar Dirk Nowitzki, 32, was named the NBA Finals' MVP, becoming the second European player to earn the award after San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker, from France, in 2007.

With Nowitzki going 1 of 12 from the field during the first half Sunday evening, Dallas Guard Jason Terry gave the team a huge boost, scoring 27 points off the bench, to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists.

Miami began leading the game 20 to 11, but the Mavericks made important defensive adjustments, switching to zone, and going on a 21-4 run to take control of the game 40 to 28 with 9:42 left in the first half. However, the Heat did not lose composure, scoring 14 straight points and regaining the lead 40 to 42.

However, Dallas stared taking complete control of the game in the second half as Nowitzki slowly began making shots, finishing the game with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Mavs entered the fourth quarter with an 81-72 lead, which they never lost. Nowitzki then made a series of tough shots to take clear control of the game with a 10 point advantage with just over 2 minutes remaining.

Miami's superstar trio made up of Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh, which scored 17, 21, and 19 points respectively, pushed the team to be considered the heavy favorites to win the series, but the Mavericks' experience and team play proved to be key factors during the series.

"This is an old school bunch," Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle said. "We don't run fast or jump high. These guys had each others backs. They played the right way, they trusted the pass. This is a phenomenal thing for the city of Dallas."

During the final game, the Mavericks' bench outscored Miami's 43 to 20, as it went 11 of 26 from the 3-point line.

"It took so long for us to get here," Nowitzki said. "I don't really know if it would have made a difference [winning in Miami]. Just this feeling to be on the best team of the world is just indescribable."

In addition to Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, 38, and Jason Terry 33 won their first NBA Championship.

"It doesn't mean as much to me," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who purchased the team 11 years ago said during the celebration. "I just feel so good for Dirk, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, and Shawn Marion."

"The whole world was telling us that we were done, that we were going to get knocked out in the first round, but this team has so much heart, so much determination, and so much fortitude that I love every one of them," Cuban added.

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