The load being carried by Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t be bigger. He must be almost perfect when the game is on the line for the Dallas Mavericks to win in these NBA Finals. Basketball lines.

Nowitzki achieved that remarkable deed in Game 2, when he topped the Mavs’ dazzling comeback by scoring their final nine baskets to tie the series. He was extraordinary again in the final period of Game 3, but Dallas fell behind in the series one more time since the best player in franchise history — and these postseason as well — couldn’t finish the job in Sunday’s 88-86 defeat to the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Center.

The Miami Heat have three of the four best players in this series. Nowitzki is the exception, putting considerably more pressure on him than any of Miami’s so-called Big 3. Basketball betting lines.

There was no doubt who the best player on the court was in Game 3, mainly in the fourth quarter, when Dirk posted 15 of his game-high 34 points and grabbed four of his game-high-tying eleven boards. There was no question where Dallas was going with the ball in the final play.

But the German megastar missed just by less than an inch as his strongly contested jumper bounced high off the back rim and fell harmlessly to the hardwood at the buzzer. “He makes that nine out of 10,” Mavs guard Jason Terry said. “This was the one that he missed.” Scores.

Game 4 will be bolted on Tuesday.

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