With a stunning display of veteran wits and calmness under pressure, the Dallas Mavericks win Game 5 of their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder today 100-96 to make a return to the NBA Finals since they made it for the first time in 2006.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points, nine in the fourth quarter and Shawn Marion scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth. The Mavericks outscored the Thunder 14-4 the rest of the way as the Thunder were just too young and too inexperienced to understand how to close out a game.

Russell Westbrook scored 31 points, and Kevin Durant and James Harden each scored 23.

The Mavs made its first trip to the NBA Finals in 2006 against the Shaquille O’Neal – Dwyane Wade combo of the Miami Heat. They won the first two games at home before suffering a monumental collapse and lost the next four games and the series.

The Mavericks lost in the first round three of the next four seasons as they overturned their roster in search of the right supporting cast.

With veterans Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic joining forces with the only two holdovers from that 2006 team – Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry, they made a tremendous run this postseason—going 12-3, with wins in 10 of the last 11 games, including a sweep of the two-time reigning champion LA Lakers.

Ironically, they might face the same Eastern Conference team they met in 2006, the Miami Heat.

The Miami Thrice lead NBA MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the Heat win Thursday night, the finals will begin Tuesday in Miami. If the Bulls win Thursday night, the finals will begin next Thursday in the East winner’s city.

=======================================================

UPDATE May 27, 2011: The Miami Heat advance to the NBA Finals!

Check out the 2011 NBA Finals schedule. Watch the 2011 NBA Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat promo videos as well.

Please read my related posts:

1. 2011 NBA Finals | Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat Schedule The NBA Finals is already set! The Dallas Mavericks will be facing the Miami Heat, a rematch of their 2006...
2. 2011 NBA Finals | Miami Heat vs Dallas Mavericks The Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks last met in 2006 when the Mavericks won the first two games at...
3. 2011 NBA Finals | Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat Promo Videos On May 31, the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks will begin the American Airlines Series – The Rematch. So-called...
4. 2011 NBA Playoffs Conference Finals Round | Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder These two teams were coming off Eastern Conference Semifinals series wins albeit in opposite ends of the spectrum. The Dallas...
5. 2011 NBA Finals | Heat vs Mavericks Game 6, Dallas Wins First NBA Title! Dirk Nowitzki is the best European player in NBA history having won the MVP award in 2007 … but he...

If you want to receive my latest posts, please subscribe to my full feed RSS or have them delivered through email. Just enter your email address below and hit the Subscribe button.

Tags: 2011 NBA playoffs, dallas mavericks, dirk nowitzki, oklahoma city thunder