After the Game 3 loss to the Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks were deflated as they had another opportunity to close out LeBron James and company in the closing minutes and came up just short with superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki missing a last second shot to tie the game up at 88 apiece. Despite the disappointing loss in Game 3 and the Heat taking the series 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals, the Mavs went into Game 4 with high hopes of tying up the series and continuing their run at an NBA title.

During most of Game 4, the Miami Heat imposed their will defensively as usual and had an easier job of doing so with an ailing Dirk Nowitzki. Coming into this game, Nowitzki was suffering from a fever and high body temperature (100+), but that didn’t stop the German superstar from leading his team in scoring yet again with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

With Dirk Nowitzki ailing and his teammates aware of it, the rest of the Mavs stepped up their game as Jason Terry (17 points), DeShawn Stevenson (11 points), Shawn Marion (16 points) and most notably Tyson Chandler (13 points, 16 rebounds) helped the Dallas Mavericks get the best of the Miami Heat on Tuesday night at the American Airlines Center. Jason Kidd (zero points, four turnovers) and J.J. Barea (eight points) struggled in Game 4, but it didn’t matter as the Mavs beat the Heat, 86-83.

The one player on the Miami Heat that failed to step up in Game 4 and has played extremely well through the playoffs thus far was LeBron James. Dwyane Wade (32 points) and Chris Bosh (24 points) had solid games offensively, but LeBron James brought up the rear with just eight points and was considered the main reason for the loss by the Heat.

It will be interesting to see whether or not King James can return to the throne in Game 5.

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