Flashback: Dirk has his MJ moment

Day 12 of our 30-team NBA playoff flashback profiles the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks franchise has one NBA title, and has 11 playoff appearance since the 1991-92 season.

Date: June 7, 2011

Situation: The No. 3 Dallas Mavericks trail the No. 2 Miami Heat, 2-1, heading to Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Context: Coming off a very inconsistent regular season, the Dallas Mavericks were in search of their first franchise championship. The Mavs had shown flashes over their schedule — an 18-2 January, for example — but also had bad stretches, including three losing streaks of three or more losses. Entering the postseason on a four-game winning streak, though, Dallas was hot. They had little trouble with any of their Western Conference opponents, beating the Blazers in six, Lakers in four and Thunder in five en route to a Finals match up with the Heat. After splitting the first two games of the series in Miami, thus stealing home court advantage, Dallas fell to the Heat in Game 3, 88-86, setting up a crucial Game 4.

Recap: The Mavs needed Dirk Nowitzki to channel his inner Michael Jordan in order to avoid falling behind 3-1 to Miami. Nowitzki was visibly ill, and had a temperature in the 100s heading into the game. He was largely absent from the first three quarters as a result, managing just 11 points as Dallas trailed, 69-65, heading to the fourth. But Nowitzki, trying to shake a reputation for disappearing in big games, proceeded to have one of the more clutch fourth quarter performances in Finals history. With Dallas trailing 74-65 with 10:12 left, Nowitzki took over; the power forward scored 11 points, leading the Mavs to a 21-9 run down the stretch. Mike Miller missed a game-tying three at the buzzer, and the Mavs held on to knot the series at 2-2 heading to Game 5, 2-2. Dallas won, 86-83.

Top players: Dirk Nowitzki finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Tyson Chandler, who was having a huge postseason, scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Jason Terry added 17 off the bench. LeBron James was a non-factor, scoring just eight points on 3-for-11 shooting. Dwyane Wade (32 points) and Chris Bosh (24 points) were the only two Heat players in double figures.

After the game: Dirk Nowitzki ditched the choke artist image, instead playing a clutch role in the next two games. He scored 29 in a Game 5 win, then 21 in a Game 6 win, as the Mavericks won their first franchise championship, shocking the Heat. In the offseason, though, Tyson Chandler left to play for the Knicks and Jose Barea signed with the Wolves, breaking up the core.

Check back tomorrow for the Blazers.

You can view the whole series back clicking the "Flashback" tag below.