Mavs surge past OKC, 100-96 to earn 2nd trip to NBA Finals

**Admin** Thu May 26, 2011 12:05 am

Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks are going back to the NBA finals.

Nowitzki swished a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:14 left and Shawn Marion followed with a three-point play off a steal, the pivotal plays in yet another fourth-quarter comeback, this one sending the Mavericks to a 100-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder that closed out the Western Conference Finals in five games.

After clawing back from down 15 with 5:04 left in Game 4, the Mavericks were down by six with 4:37 left in this one when they rallied again, outscoring the Thunder 14-4 the rest of the way.

Dallas now awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, with the Miami Heat currently leading the series against the Chicago Bulls, 3-1. Should the Mavs' return to the NBA Finals be against the Heat, they will have a chance to avenge their series loss against them from the 2006 Finals.