Really Big D: Mavericks top Heat for NBA title

Uh oh, it really is “now or never” for LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points, driving for the go-ahead dunk with 2:45 remaining, and the Mavericks beat the Miami Heat 112-103 on Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead.

Five years after going up 2-0 on the Heat, the Mavs finally got that elusive third victory, and can wrap up their first championship in Game 6 at Miami on Sunday night.

“We didn’t want to go to Miami and give them basically two shots to close us out. So we kept plugging there in the fourth. So definitely a big win for us,” Nowitzki said. “And now we have to go down there and basically approach Sunday’s game as Game 7.”

James, who called this game “now or never,” responded from his worst playoff performance with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, and Dwyane Wade battled through a sore left hip after a first-quarter collision to finish with 23 points.

“I could have made a couple of more plays for my team,” James said. “But at the end of the day, all it’s about is a win or a loss. Triple-double means absolutely nothing in a loss. So we will be better in Game 6 on Sunday.”

Game 6: Mavericks win series 4-2!!!