Dwyane Wade scored 43 points, including two free throws with 1.9 seconds left in overtime, to give the Miami Heat a 101-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday and a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals.

The series now shifts to Dallas, Texas on Tuesday, where Miami can wrap up the first title in their 18-year history by winning either Game 6 or, if necessary, Game 7.

Wade hit only 11 of 28 shots for the game but 21 of 25 free throws, none bigger than the two he nailed in the dying seconds following a foul by Dallas centre Dirk Nowitzki.

"I got hit twice on my way to the basket," said Wade, who averaged 40 points in the last three games. "I heard someone say it wasn't a foul but it was. I just tried to attack. I didn't want to settle for a pull-up jumper.

"I wanted to go to the basket, either hit it or make a foul."

A three-quarter-court shot by Mavericks guard Devin Harris was way off the mark as the buzzer sounded, setting off an explosive roar from the American Airlines Arena crowd.

A 17-foot fade away shot by Nowitzki in heavy traffic with 9.1 seconds left had given the Mavericks a 100-99 lead but Wade drew the foul by Nowitzki while driving to the basket.

"It was probably one of the greatest games I've ever been around," said Heat coach Pat Riley. "Everybody making big shots. The shot that Dirk made to put them up by one, I don't think you can defend it any better than that.

"Then Dwyane made the play he had to make."

Jason Terry scored 35 points to lead the Mavericks, hitting 13 of 23 shots, including four of nine from beyond the arc.

Dallas entered the game with its confidence shaken after blowing a 13-point lead in the final six minutes of a 98-96 loss in Game 3, and then getting blown out 98-74 in Game 4.

Tough minded

On top of that, key reserve Jerry Stackhouse was suspended for Sunday's game for a flagrant foul committed against Miami's Shaquille O'Neal in the third quarter of Game 4.

"We're a team that's tough-minded," said Dallas coach Avery Johnson. "I don't know if anybody could respond in this game the way we responded. That's why we're here in the finals.

"We're going home and I know our fans are going to be really crazy. We play pretty good basketball at home. We've got home-court advantage, so we know we have to play well and win Game 6.

"There's no tomorrow and I like that 'no tomorrow' feeling for our team."

A jam by centre Erick Dampier gave Dallas a 93-91 lead with 10.1 seconds left in regulation. But Wade tied the game with an acrobatic five-foot bank shot with only 2.8 seconds remaining.

Following a time-out, Terry's attempt at a game-winning 17-footer rimmed out, sending the game into the extra session.

O'Neal finished with 18 points, on eight of 12 shooting, but the 13-time All-Star was a miserable two for 12 from the free-throw line.

"I told the guys the job is not done yet," said O'Neal, who led Miami with 12 rebounds. "We want to enjoy this win tonight but we've still got to go to a hostile arena in Dallas and take care of business. And we look forward to doing it."

Miami was 32 for 49 from the line, while Dallas was 21 of 25.

(China Daily June 20, 2006)