NBA Finals Game-3: Miami Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks 88-86 – Second Half Report
Third Quarter
Leading by 47-42 at halftime, Miami Heat opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run to widen their lead to 55-42. The Mavericks however upped their ante in the ensuing passage and scored nine consecutive points to cut the deficit to four points with nearly seven to go in the frame.
Dwyane Wade rallied for the Heat again and hit a running layup to make it 57-51. Dirk Nowitzki, the leading scorer for Dallas, however hit a pair of free throws and a turnaround fade away shot to make it a two-point contest, 57-55 and Shawn Marion’s driving lay-up shot on the next Dallas attempt, tied the game at 57-57, 4:37 remaining in the third.
A Wade free throw later, Jason Terry hit a jump shot to give the Mavericks a 59-58 lead. Forward LeBron James and guard Mario Chalmers reverberated with three-pointers at that point, to make it 64-59 for Miami. Jason Terry’s however responded with a three for the Mavs and cut the deficit to two points only. Juwan Howard nailed a free throw in the next possession and gave Heat a 65-62 advantage.
Ian Mahinmi, who replaced the injured Brendan Haywood at the centre position, hit a pair of free throw to cut deficit to one point with 41 seconds to go in the third. Udonis Haslem’s lay-up shot gave the Heat a 67-64 lead, heading into the fourth. Marion missed a three-pointer at the buzzer of the quarter that could tie the game.
Fourth Quarter
The teams started the frame, scoring 3 points each. Dallas’ henchman Nowitzki then hit a three-pointer to knot the game at 70-70. The Heat then upped their intensity and reeled off a 9-2 run. The Mavs however managed to trim the margin to three points with 04:56 to go. Wade hit a timely three-pointer to stretch the lead to 84-78. The Mavericks however gave Miami another scare in the final stretch and went on a 6-0 to tie the game at 84-84 with 02:27 remaining on the clock.
The Heat weren’t going to allow the Mavs to take the game this time though. Bosh rose to occasion and his jump shot gave the Heat a two point lead with 39 second to go. Dallas tried to make a shot once they failed. They then got a chance to tie the game with 4.4 seconds to go, but Nowitzki missed a fade away jumper and the Heat held on to a win.
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