American Legends: NBA Finals: Ring of Fire [J. Mark English]

HEAT 95, MAVERICKS 92

Miami wins first championship

The Heat captures its first NBA title as Finals MVP Dwyane Wade scores 36 points to help Miami claim a 4-2 series victory.

Dwyane Wade grabbed backcourt partner Jason Williams in a bear of an embrace.

Shaquille O'Neal sported the champion's hat for the fourth time in his career, finally letting out a sigh he has held back since he arrived in Miami promising a title.

The entire Heat team stood on a black stage at the center of American Airlines Center, grabbing anyone that walked on to it.

It's the picture of a plan executed to perfection.

Pat Riley altered a team built around his superstar duo of Wade and O'Neal for this very moment, for those embraces, for that celebration that he has waited 11 years to experience as the leader of the Heat.

Behind Wade's 36 points, the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks 95-92 to win its first NBA title in its first trip to the championship series.

The formula that brought home the Larry O'Brien trophy may have been altered a bit some since the summer. A little more Wade and a little less O'Neal than Riley would have envisioned. But it worked nonetheless, and the Heat won't have to go through another offseason wondering ``what if?''....

....The Mavs managed to stay within three points of the Heat, 71-68, entering the fourth quarter. And with 9:54 standing between the Heat and a title, O'Neal picked up his fifth foul of the game on a DeSagana Diop dunk.

It forced the big man to the bench, replaced once again by Mourning. This time Mourning couldn't do much to keep the Mavericks from tying the score at 79-79 with 7:06 left, and suddenly it looked like the Heat's close-out effort could go unrewarded.

But a Haslem jumper started a quick 8-2 spurt, which included a James Posey three-pointer, to give the Heat an 87-81 cushion it would desperately need in the final 3:44.

That's because with less than two minutes remaining, a Jerry Stackhouse three-pointer brought the Mavericks within one. And after a Haslem put back, Josh Howard followed with a jumper that narrowed the Heat lead to 91-90 with 42.4 seconds remaining.

But just like in Game 5, the game would come down to Wade at the free throw line. With 26.2 seconds remaining, the series MVP was fouled by Nowitzki on a drive. He calmly knocked down both to extend the Heat lead to 93-90.

After a timeout, Nowitzki attempted a pass to Erick Dampier that Gary Payton deflected and Wade eventually stole. With 17.7 seconds left, Wade was sent back to the foul line for two more free throws that gave the Heat a 95-90 lead. After the makes, Wade stared toward his bench with a steely look. He knew his third season would end with a championship. He knew his coach would look like a genius this evening.

And moments later, the celebration began.