Mavericks move within one win of title with Game 5 victory

Dirk Nowitzk

Dirk Nowitzki was the outstanding player for the Dallas Mavericks again yesterday as the Mavs claimed their third victory of the NBA finals over Miami Heat yesterday.

The German has has been playing with a torn tendon in his finger, and is still playing through the pain after coming down with a virus and sinus problems earlier this week. But Nowitzki appeared sharper than ever last night at the Miami team’s American Airlines Arena, scoring 29 points as the Mavs triumphed 112-103, to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

That puts the Dallas side one game away from overall victory, with Game 6 on Sunday offering Nowitzki and co the chance to win their first ever championship.

“We didn't want to go to Miami and give them basically two shots to close us out. So we kept plugging there in the fourth. So definitely a big win for us,” Nowitzki told nba.com. “And now we have to go down there and basically approach Sunday's game as Game 7.”

Jason Terry was another Maverick who proved instrumental in the win yesterday, the shooting guard racking up 21 points, eight of them coming, crucially, in the final quarter.

“It’s my job,” Terry said afterwards. “All season long, ever since I've been a Maverick, I've been the guy in the fourth quarter they rely on to either make plays or make shots. Regardless of what's going on throughout the three quarters of the game, in the fourth quarter I know I'm depended on to come through.”

LeBron James is the Heat’s own talismanic figure, but James’ best efforts wasn’t enough to spare his team from defeat yesterday, the man nicknamed King James perhaps preparing to abdicate. James made 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – the famed triple-double – while team-mates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh managed 23 and 19 points respectively.

In the Heat’s favour is the fact that the final two games both take place on home territory, though that wasn’t enough to tip the balance yesterday. History is against the Heat, too; In 26 previous finals that have been tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner went on to win 19 of them.

Steve Colton