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Heat 117, Mavericks 106
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
DALLAS — LeBron James received very little down time during a busy All-Star weekend, and he had just one day off between Sunday’s All-Star Game and the resumption of the season Tuesday night at the American Airlines Center.
It didn’t matter. The Miami forward was at his best, posting 42 points, nine rebounds and six assists while carrying the Heat past the Dallas Mavericks, 117-106.
Dallas led 95-92 when swingman Vince Carter completed a four-point play with 7:47 left in the game. Miami then turned to a swarming defense that was missing for most of a very entertaining offensive game. The Heat produced a 16-0 run, extending the lead to 106-95 with 3:21 to go. Dallas finally ended its drought when center Samuel Dalembert hit the second of two free throws with 2:29 to go to make it 106-96.
The Mavericks went five minutes without scoring and six minutes between field goals as Miami closed out the game with a 25-8 run.
Dallas had a chance to earn a big home win in its first game since defeating the East-leading Indiana Pacers on the road in the final game before the All-Star break. However, the Mavericks’ opportunity slipped away during the opening four minutes of the final quarter.
James took a breather while Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, was hard at work trying to extend Dallas’ small lead.
Instead, the Heat held a one-point lead by the time James checked back in.
James wound up hitting 16 of 23 shots. Miami guard Dwyane Wade was limited to 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting. He also had seven assists. Heat forward Chris Bosh added 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, plus five rebounds. Forward Chris Andersen scored 18 points, and guard Mario Chalmers added 10 points and nine assists.
Dallas got 15 points from Carter off the bench. Mavericks guard Monta Ellis, guard Jose Calderon and backup center Brandan Wright each scored 12 points, but they combined to shoot 13-for-35 from the floor.
Heat backup center Greg Oden had an impact at both ends in the first half. He scored five points on a finger roll and a dunk that became a three-point play with the foul. He also helped quiet Wright, who had a fast run of three thunderous dunks before the insertion of the 7-foot Oden.
In five minutes of action, Oden finished with the five points and one rebound.
NOTES: Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki requested limited minutes in Sunday’s All-Star Game and played just eight. The league’s 13th-leading scorer all time was the only player on either All-Star team not to score in a game that set an All-Star record for total scoring. … The Heat played their fourth game of a six-game road trip against all Western Conference teams. They wrap it up at Oklahoma City on Thursday. … Mavericks owner Mark Cuban squashed a trade rumor earlier in the day that suggested Dallas was attempting to put together a package for Minnesota PF Kevin Love.
