Mavericks at Heat
THE STORY: The most talked-about team in the NBA this past season has delivered on its vow to reach the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat open the best-of-seven championship Tuesday against Dirk Nowitzki and the visiting Dallas Mavericks. It's a rematch of the 2006 Finals, in which Miami captured its first NBA title.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE HEAT: When James, Wade and Bosh agreed to team up in South Beach last summer, the entire basketball world took notice. The Big Three got off to a slow start but finished the season strong and have been virtually unstoppable in the postseason, routing both the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls in consecutive five-game romps. The trio is averaging 68.3 points per game in the postseason, though the Mavericks could be one of the few teams to keep them below that total. Miami's defense has been equally as impressive, allowing just 88.3 points - a total that ranks them second in the league.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS: Dallas took advantage of a young and inexperienced Oklahoma City club to earn its first trip to the Finals since losing to the Heat in five games five years ago. Nowitzki was the key to the Mavericks' success in 2006 and remains the focal point of the Dallas offense. He's second in playoff scoring at 28.4 points per game and was at his best down the stretch against the Thunder, averaging 11.4 points in the fourth quarter. Nowitzki will likely draw the assignment of guarding Bosh, while Shawn Marion will be tasked with handling James or Wade. DeShawn Stevenson will likely guard the other superstar.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: James shook off a rough opening game against the Bulls to average 28.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists over the final four games of the series. Mavericks guard Jason Terry shot less than 37 percent (24 for 65) against the Thunder and will need to be better, particularly if the Heat are able to limit Nowitzki's scoring.
KEY STATISTIC: +7.14 - The Mavericks' scoring differential in the postseason, tops in the league. Miami is second at +4.66.
SEASON SERIES: Dallas won both regular-season meetings. Caron Butler's 23 points lifted the Mavericks to a 106-95 home win Nov. 27, while Nowitzki scored a game-high 26 points in a 98-96 triumph in Miami on Dec. 20. James averaged just 21 points on 30.6 percent shooting against the Mavericks.
LAST WORD: "Hopefully this time we can finish the job." - Nowitzki on the Mavericks returning to the NBA Finals.