Dallas Mavericks need one more win for maiden NBA title

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and Jason Terry had 21 points to lead Dallas to a 112-103 win over Miami on Thursday that put the Mavericks on the brink of the first NBA title in franchise history

Dallas Mavericks need one more win for maiden NBA title

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and Jason Terry had 21 points to lead Dallas to a 112-103 win over Miami on Thursday that put the Mavericks on the brink of the first NBA title in franchise history. Terry scored five of Dallas' final seven points, including a three pointer over LeBron James with 33 seconds left, and the Mavericks shot 56.5 percent from the field to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Finals.

Dirk Nowitzki (right) and Tyson Chandler of Dallas Mavericks celebrate
a point during Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Dallas, Texas on Thursday.u00a0
Dallas defeated Miami 112-103. Pic/AFP

The Mavericks need one more win for the first NBA title in their 31-year history, but they will have to win at least one game in Miami. Of the 26 times the finals have been tied 2-2, the winner of game five has gone on to win the series 19 times.

Dwyane Wade

Rematch
This year's championship series is a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals, which Miami took in six games for their first NBA title. Game Five is on Sunday in Miami. Miami star Dwyane Wade was forced to play through an injury but finished with a team high 23 points. James had 17 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for Miami, who dominated much of the first three games of the series before dropping the last two in stunning fashion.

Both teams shot well Thursday in the highest scoring game of the series, which had been a defensive battle through the first four contests. With Nowitzki having another superb offensive game, the Mavericks went on a couple of late runs to close out the second and the fourth quarters. They outscored Miami 16-7 to close out the second for a 60-57 halftime lead.

Wade had to go to the locker room in the second quarter after injuring himself on a drive but returned a little later.

Treatment
He also missed the start of the second half to get treatment in the dressing room. James didn't dominate, but he was more productive overall than in game four when he finished with a career playoff low eight points. Once again, however, he failed to make an impact down the stretch scoring just two points in the fourth
quarter.u00a0