Heat Beat Mavs Again

    For the second time in two weeks, the Miami Heat faced their old Western Conference nemesis the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won the game in overtime 119-109 over the team they faced at the NBA Finals in 2006 and 2011. Miami dominated on the road against the Mavs 110-95 back on December 20 and at one point had a 36-point lead in that game.
    Even though they began down 5-4, Dallas(13-20) was up 18-7 five minutes into the game. The Mavericks hit ten straight points late in the period and led 30-22 after one quarter. The Heat cut a double-digit deficit as they went on a 16-8 run at the end of the second quarter and were down 52-50 at halftime.
    Miami(22-8) blasted out with a 10-2 spurt at the start of the second half and took their first lead since two minutes into the game. They were ahead 60-54 at 8:52 of the third quarter and up 81-79 after the period. During the final minute of the fourth quarter, Shane Battier hit a go-ahead three-point shot from the right corner with 14.5 seconds left for a Miami 103-101 lead. Dirk Nowitzki put up a fade-away shot from the foul line with 3.9 seconds to go and moved the game into overtime.
    The Heat scored the first seven points of overtime and led 110-103 at 3:21. Miami outscored Dallas 16-6 in the extra session for a double-digit victory 119-109.
    LeBron James reached the 20-point mark for the 30th time in 30 games. It was his 16th double-double this season as he had 32 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in 42 minutes for Miami. Dwyane Wade scored at least 20 points for his sixth consecutive game. He contributed a double-double with 27 points and season-high 10 rebounds in 45 minutes of play for the Heat. Chris Bosh knocked down 17 points in 40 minutes and Ray Allen sank 15 points in 27 minutes.
    Nowitzki, who did not play in the first game for the Mavericks against the Heat two weeks ago, piled home 19 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes as a reserve. O.J. Mayo nailed 30 points and six assists in 46 minutes while Chris Kaman got a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes for Dallas. Vince Carter, who has always excelled against the Miami Heat, fell short of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds in 36 minutes.