Thursday, June 02, 2011

20-2 Mavs Spurt Fuels Comeback to Even NBA Finals 1-1

In a game that was as full of team spurts as any you'll see, Dallas stunned Miami tonight to even the NBA finals at a game apiece. With the Heat leading by a seemingly comfortable 88-73 well into the fourth quarter, Jason Terry scored with 6:18 left to launch an improbable 20-2 run that put the Mavericks ahead 93-90 with 26 seconds remaining. After Miami tied the game with a three, Dirk Nowitzki hit a layup in the closing seconds for a 95-93 Mavs win (play-by-play sheet).

The Heat's 88-73 lead itself was the product of a Miami 13-0 burst. Miami also enjoyed a 15-1 run spanning the second and third quarters, converting a 51-42 deficit to a 57-52 lead.

Tonight's game also was the reverse of a classic game in the 2006 NBA finals, also between Dallas and Miami. The Mavericks, leading two games to none at the time and seemingly en route to a 3-0 lead, blew an 89-76 lead with 6:33 remaining, to lose 98-96 (fourth quarter play-by-play). Dallas never won another game in the series that year...

UPDATE: Neil Paine at Basketball Reference has more on Dallas's comeback.

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