The Dallas Mavericks are one game away from winning the 2011 NBA Finals. Dallas defeated Miami in Game 5 on Thursday night 112-103, giving the Mavericks a 3-2 series lead as the series shifts back to Miami for Game 6.
The Mavericks gave up the lead in the fourth quarter as the Heat went on a run to take a 99-95 lead. Dallas, though, stormed back with a run of their own, ending the game on a 17-4 run to end the game.
Dallas as a team shot 56.5% from the field in Game 5 en route to the 112 points. The Mavericks were also excellent from three point range, shooting 68.4% from beyond the arc.
Dirk Nowitzki led all players in scoring with 29 points, going 9-18 from the field and a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line. Nowitzki added six rebounds and three assists as well while playing 40 minutes.
Jason Kidd also played 40 minutes for Dallas, scoring 13 points with six assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Jason Terry backed up his talk about the Mavericks making their shots, as Terry came off the bench to score 21 points on 8-12 shooting.
For Miami, the storyline throughout the game was Dwyane Wade and his hip injury. Wade suffered the injury in the first quarter driving to the basket when Brian Cardinal tried to draw a charging foul against Wade, forcing Wade to the ground. Wade would leave the game to get his hip checked out, but returned in the second quarter after being told he had a hip contusion. Wade also remained in the locker room as the third quarter opened play and didn't return until nearly midway through.
Wade finished the game scoring 23 points in 34 minutes, on 6-12 shooting.
LeBron James, who claimed that Game 5 was the biggest of his life, was 8-19 shooting for 17 points. James, though, did post a triple-double, dishing out 10 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds, but only scored two points in the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks will look to clinch the series on Sunday in Game 6 in Miami.