Miami Heat Beat Dallas Mavericks 92-84 To Take Opening Game Of NBA Finals

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May 31, 2011 11:22 PM

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6), Chris Bosh (1) and Dwyane Wade (3) reacts during the last minutes of the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in Miami. The Heat defeated the Mavericks 92-84.

The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 92-84 in the opening game of the National Basketball Association Finals.

LeBron James had 24 points and nine rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 22 points and 10 rebounds and Chris Bosh contributed 19 points and nine rebounds for the Heat last night at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.

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“We had them where we wanted them,” Wade said in a televised courtside interview. “Offensively we just executed and guys made plays.”

MIAMI, FL - MAY 31: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat drives for a shot attempt against Jason Kidd #2 of the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on May 31, 2011 in Miami, Florida.

The Heat beat the Mavericks in six games in each team’s only previous visit to the finals in 2006. Since then, Miami had gone 0-10 against Dallas before last night’s win.

Dallas fell six points behind after the opening six minutes before taking a 17-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. After one change of lead in the opening period, there were eight in the second quarter, with Dallas heading into the halftime break with a 44-43 advantage.

Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem (40) goes up for a shot during the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in Miami.

The Mavericks led 51-43 in the third quarter before Miami rallied, with James making his fourth straight 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 65-61 for the Heat.

Dallas never got the deficit down to less than two points and Miami led by 12 points with 40 seconds to play as James got his final points of the game.

Miami Heat's Chris Bosh (1) gestures during the last minutes of the second half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball game Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in Miami. Around Bosh are Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem (40), Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd (2) and Dirk Nowitzki (41). The Heat defeated the Mavericks 92-84.

Dirk Nowitzki, who had 27 points for the Mavericks, said he tore a tendon in the middle finger of his left, non-shooting hand and wore a splint at a postgame news conference. Shawn Marion added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Dallas.

The teams return to the same venue tomorrow for the second game before the best-of-seven series moves to Dallas for as many as three games.

Bloomberg