MyDallasMavs: Finals- Mavs vs Heat: Game 5

The Mavs stepped foot onto the AAC floor one last time this post-season for Game 5 with the hope of taking a 3-2 series lead before heading back to Miami for Game 6 and 7. Game 5 was a journey in itself, but the Mavs accomplished the task of getting the victory to advance to one win away from being crowned the 2011 NBA Champions after a 112-103 win.

Brendan Haywood sat out for the second time with his strained right hip flexor.

The Mavs came out with a great start, taking a 13-6 lead from the get-go. Miami kept close behind Dwyane Wade's skills and ease getting to the line until he left for the locker room with a left hip contusion after colliding with Brian Cardinal during a drive to the basket. However, Miami didn't let Wade's absence affect them as they still managed to go on a 17-9 run to take a 31-30 lead at the end of the first quarter after Chalmers chucked up and made a long 3-pointer at the buzzer for the second time this series.

Early in the second quarter, Terry and Chalmers exchanged baskets several times on each end. While Wade still in the locker room, Bosh put the scoring on his back as he took matters upon himself until Wade returned. With help from Dirk and Chandler, the Mavs were able to tie the game at 52 before Marion received a technical foul for arguing a call on Lebron. Despite the obstacles, Dallas took a 60-57 lead at the end of the half.

In the first half, Dallas outshot Miami, 65.7% to 51.3%. Dirk led all scorers with 16 points while Chandler added 11 of his own. Bosh, Chalmers and Wade combined for 37 points.

As the third quarter started with Wade back in the locker room, the Heat still would not give up while Nowitzki and Barea both swished in 3-pointers to keep their team ahead. Wade returned with under 5 minutes to go in the quarter, but Dallas continued to score and held onto an 84-79 lead before entering the final quarter.

In the early minutes of the fourth quarter, Barea scored an and-1 to put the Mavs ahead 88-81 and kept the Mavs up again by swishing in a 3-pointer after the Heat cut their lead to two. Miami answered with a 16-5 run which was concluded by a 3-pointer by Wade before Dirk took a 2 for 2 trip to the line to cut Dallas' deficit to 3. The Mavs kept fighting while Terry tied the game with a 3-pointer of his own followed by a Dunk by Nowitzki to put the Mavs back up by 2. Then it was Terry who would pass the ball across the paint to Jason Kidd who was patiently waiting at the arc where he drained in a 3-pointer to give Dallas a 105-100 lead with under 2 minutes to play. Terry then swished in another 3-pointer to put the Mavs up by 7 with 33 seconds remaining. Lebron answered on the other end with a bucket of his own followed by Kidd's 2 for 2 trip to the line to put the Mavs up 110-103 with 25 seconds left. Terry finished it up with another bucket as the final buzzer sounded and the Mavs got the 112-103 victory to put them one win away from winning the ring.

Dirk led 5 Mavs in double figures with 29 points and 6 rebounds. Barea added 17 points while Kidd had 13 points of his own, including three 3-pointers. Chandler finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds to make up for Haywood's absence. Off the bench, Terry added 21 points (8 in the 4th), including three 3-pointers as well, along with 6 assists.

Despite his hip injury, Wade finished with a team-high 23 points while Bosh had 19 of his own. Lebron had a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Chalmers had 15 points, including four 3-pointers and Haslem added 10 points of his own, as Miami's bench outscored Dallas', 40-32.

Despite the loss, the Heat had a 46-34 edge in points in the paint as well as out-rebounded the Mavs 36-26. The Mavs outshot the Heat, 56% to 52.9%. Dallas converted 18 Miami turnovers into 21 points while Miami converted 11 Dallas turnovers into 15 points. Dallas hit 13 of 19 3-pointers while Miami hit just 8 of 20.

Heading back to Miami, just one win away, the Mavs will try and wrap up the series Sunday night in hopes of a Game 6 victory to be crowned the 2011 NBA Champs for the first time in Dallas franchise history.

**Game 6 will air on ABC on Sunday, June 12th at 8pm ET.