NBA Finals 2011 Live Blog: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks Game 3

Welcome folks to live blog coverage for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks are even at one game a piece, after splitting the first two contests in South Florida.

Now the series has moved to the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where the Mavericks will be hosting the next three games knowing full well they have the potential to avoid a return trip to Miami should they take care of business on their home court.

While the chances of beating the Heat four straight games seem far fetched, even with the next three at home, don't put it out of the realm of possibility.

Who knows Miami team will show up tonight? After all the manner in which Game 2 ended could have a lasting negative mental impact on this newly assembled Heat squad.

Remember in the 2006 Finals Dallas had taken Games 1 and 2 at home and held a 13 point fourth quarter lead in Game 3 before the Heat stormed back and won. Two of the next three games were close but the Mavericks never seemed to regain their stride and dropped the series and four straight to Miami.

This time around it was the Heat that crumbled in the final minutes, blowing a 15 point lead and seemingly opening themselves up for even more criticism.

Why didn't anyone foul Dirk with one to give? Why was Bosh guarding him? Why didn't LeBron defer to Wade, who had the hot hand late? Did Eric Spoelstra cost Miami a game and possibly a ring?

Many questions abound as we approach tip off.

Will Miami, who dominated the first 41 minutes of Game 2, come out on fire and seek payback for the meltdown on Thursday?

Does Dallas now have the psychological edge and all the momentum on their side with which to take control of the series?

"The first five minutes are going to crucial because of their crowd, so we're going to have to match their intensity," Dwyane Wade said during morning shoot around.

To say this game is pivotal could be an understatement. In NBA playoff history, when the series is tied 1-1 roughly 74 percent of teams that win Game 3 go on to win the series. Furthermore in the 2-3-2 series format (since 1985), when the NBA Finals is tied at one a piece, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the series on all 11 occasions.

If that trend holds true then the Heat and Mavs are about to slug things out with a sense of urgency to win.

One thing that's sure is that both the Heat team and their fans have to be chomping at the bit for some redemption. Just getting to Game 3 in uplifting considering the miserable feeling that the conclusion of Game 2 caused. A win tonight would once more swing the series in Miami's favor.