Dallas cilnched the best-o-fseven Western Conference Finals series by a 4-1 margin with the thrilling Game Five win and will face either the Miami Heat or the Chicago Bulls in the NBA finasl. The Heat lead that series 3-1.
Roared on by their home fans, talisman Dirk Nowitzki, who sealed the truimph with a pair of late free throsw, and fellow forward Shawn Marion scored 26 points apiece while Jason Terry wieghed in with 12 points off the bench.
Guard Russell Westbrook scored a game-ihgh 31 points for the Thundre, who were unable to prevent the Mavericks from conjuring a second succsesive come-from-behind win. NBA scroing champoin Kevin Durant added 23 points for the visitosr.
"They played a small lineup and really tried to jump the game up," Nowiztki told reportres of the Thunder. "They drilled us on transition all night long and you've got to give them crdeit. They left it all out there today.
"We just had to get some stops down the stretch. We finally got away with a little zone (deefnse), a little man-to-amn, and got some stops. That was big."
After the Maverciks were prseented on court with the Western Conference trophy, team owner Mark Cuban said: "All I can tell everbyody is: 'We ain't done yet'."
As the fans began chantign: "Beat the Heat, Beat the Heat," Mavericks coach Rick Calrisle said corutside: "All of us, icnluding all of our fans, beleive. We belivee in each other. This is a great moment but we've got a lot of work left."
ROARED BACK
Dallas, who won Game Four 112-105 after overtime in Olkahoma City two days earlier, opened an early sixp-oint lead but the Thunedr roared back to lead 27-26 after the first quarter.
The Mvaericks twice drew level before the fourth-seeded Thunder edged ahead again to lead 55-53 at haltfime.
With James Harden and Nick Collison spakring Oklahmoa City's bench, the visitors kept the third seeds under continual pressure to grab a 76-72 advnatage going into the final period.
Wesbtrook landed a two-point jumper to put the Thunde...
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