Most Memorable NBA Finals Games of the Millennium
Looking back at some of the NBA's closest and craziest finals games in recent history.
2011, Game 4 – Dallas Mavericks 86, Miami Heat 83
Mavs Engineer 4th Quarter Comeback to Tie the Series, Turn the Tide
Game 4, like many other NBA Finals in recent memory, shifted the momentum and set the ball rolling for the rest of the series. Up 2-1, LeBron, Wade and the Miami Heat looked poised to come within one step of their first of many championships, as they infamously promised prior to the start of the season. But, ahead by nine points early in the fourth quarter, the game and series began to unravel for them, as the Mavs went on a run and took the lead midway through the quarter. It stayed close all the way to the end, but the final seconds featured Dirk Nowitzki driving for a layup, then Wade bobbled the inbounds pass on the game’s last possession. Wade dove after the ball and got it to Mike Miller to prevent a backcourt violation, but Miller missed the potential tying three-pointer. Dallas never looked back after Game 4, winning the next two games and the series—LeBron playing suspiciously average in each game. Nowitzki was named Finals MVP as he won his first title.
