Today marks the six-year anniversary of the Mavs’ stunning 15-point comeback against the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals.
With 10:52 left in the fourth quarter, Shawn Marion scored to pull Dallas to within two points, 75-73. But over the next three-plus minutes, the Heat’s Big 3 keyed a 13-0 run to stretch the lead to 88-73. To cap off the surge, Dwyane Wade drilled a 3-pointer with 7:14 left on the clock. Then, he and teammate LeBron James celebrated in front of the visiting Mavs’ bench as the Heat fans went berserk, believing their team was about to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Fifteen-point, fourth-quarter leads are usually safe, but not this time. Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki shared the bulk of scoring duties down the stretch, and the Mavericks escaped with a 95-93 victory. Dallas outscored Miami 22-5 after that Wade trey, and would ultimately go on to win three of the next four games afterward to take home the franchise’s lone title.
One of the coolest things about momentous games like that is everyone has a great story about where they were or who they watched the game with. For example, I missed the first half to attend a cooking class with my mom as part of her Mother’s Day gift. We sped home by halftime, where we watched the good (and the bad) with my dad and sister. After the game was over, I went to a midnight showing of the new X Men movie — knowing the circumstances, my friends saved me a seat — and the entire theater was buzzing. Many there hadn’t seen the end of the game because they’d turned it off and left after Wade’s would-be dagger. Still, we reveled together that night.
On this anniversary, I decided to ask some MFFLs on Twitter what memories they have of that night. Here are some of the best responses.
The celebration may have cost one fan a chance to register for school. The sacrifices we make for the love of the game.
I was in our dormitory and didn't process my enrollment for that semester on that day coz I was too hyped from the comeback!
— Nike Balonga (@rnnbalonga) June 2, 2017
And one brave father/son duo took in Game 2 among a bar full of Heat fans.
https://twitter.com/dirk4prez2020/status/870663025866399745
Some weren’t able to watch due to commitments… of one kind or another.
On a flight from Dallas to DC. Couldn't watch – they won. Watched 1 and 3 – they lost. I still haven't seen Game 2 or Games 4-6.
— John R. in Big D (@ReddTrain) June 2, 2017
— Clint Utley (@BigUtt) June 2, 2017
Fans didn’t just watch stateside, either. Mavs fans stayed up way late (or way early) to take things in.
Was watching at @Goldhand28's house. It was like 5am in Germany and we probably woke up the entire neighborhood when Dirk hit the three.
— Florian (@FloTo09) June 2, 2017
I was 17, in the middle of HS finals in France. Watched every game at 2-3am anyway. Woke up the house on Dirk's 3. Mum wanted to kill me lol
— Dirk (@MFFL26) June 2, 2017
The one thing about sports that’s universal — whether your team wins or loses, whether they make the playoffs or fight for lottery balls — is you make memories with the ones you watch the games with. Every fan has a tale like this from one night or another. Maybe it’s the first (or only) time you’ve seen Dirk play in person, maybe you got to meet a player, or maybe you and your family barricaded yourself at home for Game 6, refusing even to answer text messages until the game was over, out of fear that any slight dip in focus might cost the Mavs the title.
Do you have a funny story from that night? What else do you remember about that Finals run? Let us know below in the comments.
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