MIAMI, June 3 (UPI) -- Dirk Nowitzki finished an amazing Dallas comeback with the winning layup Thursday to give the Mavericks a 95-93, NBA Finals-tying victory over Miami.
Miami was cruising to what appeared certain to be its 10th straight playoff home win and a commanding lead in the championship series of professional basketball. Dallas, however, went on a 22-5 run over the final 6:20 that knotted the best-of-seven series at a game each.
The Mavericks will host the next three contests beginning Sunday with Game 3.
Nowitzki, playing with a splint on his injured left middle finger, scored his team's final nine points and finished with 24.
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He made a layup with 58 seconds left that tied the game at 90-90 and then, after Dwyane Wade missed a 3-point attempt for the Heat, Nowitzki hit a 3-point try to put the Mavericks in front with 34 seconds remaining.
Miami's Mario Chalmers tied the game again with a 3-pointer from the corner with 25 seconds to play.
That set up Nowitzki for his game-winning shot, one that came on a layup after a spinning move from the top of the key that sent him winding through three defenders to the basket.
A desperation 3-point try from 20 feet away by Wade at the buzzer bounced off the back rim. Nowitzki was in Wade's face as the ball was released.
Wade scored 36 points to lead Miami and his 3-pointer with 7:15 left in regulation gave the Heat a seemingly insurmountable 88-73 lead. The 3-pointer by Chalmers was the only shot the Heat made from the field in 11 attempts the rest of the way.
LeBron James had 20 points for Miami and Mike Bibby had 14.
Shawn Marion contributed 20 for the Mavericks, who shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded Miami 41-30.
The stunning Dallas rally added to the comeback story the Mavericks have written in these playoffs. They came from 16 points behind in the second half to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game of the Western Conference semifinals, leading to a series sweep.
Dallas then came back from 15 points down in the final 5 minutes to shock Oklahoma City in the fourth game of the Western Conference finals to take a 3-1 lead in that series.
