NBA - Nowitzki, Mavericks beat Heat to capture title

MIAMI (NBA) - The wait is over for the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki.

The Mavs got 10 points from Nowitzki in the fourth quarter and 27 in the game from Jason Terry in a 105-95 triumph over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday to capture the club's first title.

Denied by the Heat in the championship series five years ago, Nowitzki and Dallas at long last reached the promised land.

The German superstar, who turns 33 on June 19, was named MVP of the Finals.

While just nine of 27 from the field, Nowitzki inflicted most of his damage in the last period when the Mavs killed off the Heat.

It's a night he'll never forget.

"I really still can't believe it," he said on the court afterward while surrounded by his teammates.

Later in the post-game press conference, Nowitzki said: "If you are in this league for 13 years, just battling in the play-offs for the last 10 years, 11 years, and always come up a little short, that's why this is extra special.

"If I would have won one earlier in my career, maybe I wouldn't have put in all the time and the work that I have the last 13 years. This feels amazing."

Nowitzki was not the only player to stop the rot.

Jason Kidd, one of the finest point guards in history, also celebrated his first title after coming up short on two occasions with the New Jersey Nets.

He had nine points and eight assists.

"I can't believe the journey," Kidd said.

"The journey, the character of my teammates telling me they wanted to get me a championship.

"Tonight they came out and played well. I came here twice, this being my third time so third time was the lucky charm."

Dallas coach Rick Carlisle paid tribute to Kidd.

"In my third year, I've learned so much from these guys - especially Jason Kidd," Carlisle said.

"His view of the game is so different. He's savant-like."

"I'm happy for Kidd," Nowitzki added.

"What a warrior he is, at 38 and chasing the most athletic players in this league, out there and doing a great job and leading our squad.

"He's been in this league forever and had two chances, it's just been an unbelievable team."

The Miami Heat had Dwyane Wade, the 2006 NBA Finals MVP, and brought in LeBron James and Chris Bosh after last season.

They overcame a lot of adversity to reach the title series but came up short.

James suffered defeat in the NBA Finals for the second time.

"It was a failure in '07 when we lost to the Spurs when I was in Cleveland," James said.

"It's a failure now."

Wade gave credit to the Mavs.

"They're a helluva team," he said.

"We ran into a team that at this time is obviously better than us."

Puerto Rican point guard Jose Barea was important throughout the series and finished with 15 points and five assists.

FIBA