Blast To The Past: Dallas Mavericks vs Miami Heat 2005

Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

February 1st, 2005

The Dallas Mavericks were hosting the Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade led Miami Heat.

Before I get into the game, here’s Shaq after the game regarding Mav’ center Eric Dampier.

"Damp is soft. Quote it, write it, tape it and send it to him, I tell you, there’s nothing there."

It would seem hat the Heat won right?

Before that make sure you noticed the names mentioned.

The Mavericks, thanks to the late heroics of then 6th man Jerry Stackhouse were able to hold on beat the Heat 109-104.

Stackhouse scored 10 of his 24 points late in the game, and added 7 rebounds and 3 assists to his stat line.

Jason Terry led the Mavs with 8 assists to go along with his 18 points. Current Mav and then rookie Devin Harris came off the bench for 8 points in 10 minutes of action. Josh Howard added 11 points, but none bigger then his putback off a Stackhouse miss that gave the Mavs a 104-98 lead late in the game. Michael Finely and Marquis Daniels combined for just 9 points.

Of course no Mavs game would be the same without the great Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki finished the game with 19 points and 7 rebounds. And of course, Dirk would put the Mavs ahead. Dirk’s biggest basket came with 3 minutes to go and the game all tied up, Dirk’s two pints gave the Mavs the lead at 100-98 and would never tie or trail throughout the rest of the game.

To the dismay of Shaq, Dampier finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds in 34 minutes (If only Dalembert could get through 18)! Shawn Bradley, Alan Henderson, Calvin Booth, and Darrel Armstrong were also on the Mavs’ active roster.

Dampier following the win,

"If he says I’m soft, I’m soft. It’s no big deal. Winning is more important than any remarks he might make."

Though Shaq finished with 25 points (11-18)and 13 rebounds, thanks to fill-in coach Avery Johnson (Don Nelson out ill) switching to zone and Dampier’s defense, Shaq would miss some big shots towards the end of the game.

One of the most disliked players in Mavs history, Wade finished with a game high 29 points and 8 assists. One time Mav Eddie Jones finished with 9 points (3-5 3’s) for the Heat. Udanis Haslem (14 points), Rasual Butler (20), Damon Jones (4), and Keyon Dooling (3) contributed to the Heat.

Then Miami coach Stan Van Gundy on late loss,

"We didn’t do a good job on Stackhouse one-on-one and that’s a decision that beat us"

The Mavs moved to 29-14 on the season with that win.