Oklahoma City Thunder, Dirk Nowitzki | featured news

After all the incredible shots Dirk Nowitzki has hit this postseason, it was his vintage stuff - a straightaway 3-pointer and a pair of free throws - that put the Dallas Mavericks back in the NBA finals.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 40 points, Jason Kidd hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left in overtime and the Dallas Mavericks pushed the Thunder to the brink of elimination.

Even when he is off his game, Dirk Nowitzki can still get the job done as the Dallas Mavericks' closer. Nowitzki shrugged off a rough start and made a few key jumpers in the fourth quarter, helping the Mavericks hold off the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 93-87 victory Saturday night and a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

James Harden, Eric Maynor, Nick Collison and Daequan Cook did something Kobe Bryant and the Lakers couldn't do — make big plays down the stretch to hold off Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks.

Dallas, the oldest team in the N.B.A. playoffs, got a game-high 48 points from Dirk Nowitzki to overshadow a 40-point performance by the Thunder’s Kevin Durant.