Basketball: Miami switch on the heat

MIAMI - Dwyane Wade scored 43 points, including two free throws with 1.9 seconds left in overtime, to give the Miami Heat a 101-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks yesterday and a 3-2 lead in the NBA finals.

The series shifts tomorrow to Dallas, where Miami can wrap up the first title in their 18-year history by winning either the sixth game or, if necessary, the seventh game on Friday.

Wade hit only 11 of 28 shots for the game but 21 of 25 free throws, none bigger than the two he nailed in the dying seconds following a foul by Dallas centre Dirk Nowitzki.

A three-quarter court shot by Mavericks guard Devin Harris was way off the mark as the buzzer sounded, setting off an explosive roar from the crowd.

A fade-away shot by Nowitzki in heavy traffic with 9.1s left had given the Mavericks a 100-99 lead but Wade drew the foul by Nowitzki while driving to the basket.

Jason Terry scored 35 points to lead the Mavericks, hitting 13 of 23 shots, including four of nine from beyond the arc.

Dallas entered the game with their confidence shaken after blowing a 13-point lead in the final six minutes of a 96-98 loss in the third game, and then losing 74-98 in the fourth.

As well, key reserve Jerry Stackhouse was suspended for yesterday's game for a foul committed against Shaquille O'Neal in the third quarter of the fourth match.

A jam by centre Erick Dampier gave Dallas a 93-91 lead with 10.1s left in regulation time. But Wade tied the game with an acrobatic bank shot with only 2.8s remaining.

Following a timeout, Terry's attempt at a game-winning basket rimmed out, sending the game into the extra session.

O'Neal finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds but a miserable two for 12 from the free-throw line.

Miami were 32 for 49 from the free throw line, while Dallas nailed 21 of 25.

Josh Howard added 25 points for the Mavericks but he missed two key free throws with 54s left in overtime with Dallas holding a 98-97 lead.

Miami's Gary Payton responded with a lay-up high off the glass with 29.8s left to give Miami a 99-98 lead, setting up Nowitzki's potential game-winner with 9sec left.

The Mavericks easily beat Miami in the first two games of the series in Dallas, but lost all three in Miami.

- REUTERS