Nowitzki rallies Mavs to even series with Heat

‘WE’RE EVEN.’ Jason Kidd (L) and Dirk Nowitzki (R) of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate their 95-93 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on June 2, 2011 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida. AFP

MIAMI – Dirk Nowitzki made the go-ahead layup with 3.6 seconds left as the Dallas Mavericks roared back from 15 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Miami Heat 95-93 on Thursday and level the NBA finals at one game apiece.

The German star capped the furious rally by scoring Dallas’ final nine points, making his last two baskets with his non-shooting left hand, despite having a torn tendon on his middle finger.

Dwyane Wade had 36 points for Miami, but missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the game.

Game 3 is Sunday in Dallas.

Dallas was seemingly out of the game when Miami went up 88-73 with 7:15 remaining, but the Mavs held the Heat to just one field goal from there – a 3-pointer by Mario Chalmers with 24.5 seconds that tied it just 2 seconds after Nowitzki’s 3 had made it 93-90.

MINE. Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki (41) goes up for a rebound against Miami Heat's Joel Anthony (50) during Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball game Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Miami, which the Mavericks won to even the series ta 1-1. AP

After a time-out, Dallas’ Jason Kidd ran the clock down before getting the ball to Nowitzki, who drove into the lane, spun back to the left and made the game-winning layup.

Jason Terry, largely silent since the first half of Game 1, sparked the comeback with a couple of jumpers and finished with 16 points. Shawn Marion added 20 points for the Mavericks, who had lost four straight finals games in Miami since taking a 2-0 lead in the 2006 series.

They were about to go down 2-0 again before Nowitzki, who insisted his injured finger wouldn’t hinder him, led a rally even more impressive than the one that won Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, when the Mavs trailed Oklahoma City by 15 in the fourth quarter before pulling it out in overtime.

LeBron James scored 20 points for the Heat.