LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat are playing great defense so far on the Dallas Mavericks, but the visitors ahead in Game 1 thanks to some good outside shooting and some hard work on the offensive boards. Dirk Nowitzki hasn't been allowed to have much of an impact, as the Mavs star has just four points after one quarter, but his teammates are doing their jobs so far, and as a result Dallas leads by at score of 17-16.
Heat Vs. Mavericks, Game 1 Score: Outside Shooting, Offensive Rebounding Has Dallas Ahead
Dallas is shooting just 29 percent from the floor, but they do have three three-pointers, while the Mavericks have scored on both of Shawn Marion's offensive rebounds. Marion is guarding Dwyane Wade, and as a result the Heat guard has been completely shut down, but that decision has also allowed James to score eight points without looking particularly spectacular. Bosh is contributing as well, putting in six points and three rebounds. The Mavs' leader so far has been Jason Terry, who has seven points off the bench.
For live coverage of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, keep it tuned to this StoryStream. To see the up-to-the-minute score, along with information from around SB Nation on the game, keep your browser on this Heat-Mavs score page. Throughout the NBA Finals, check out our 2011 NBA Finals hub for more coverage. For more on the two teams, Mavericks fans should head over to Mavs Moneyball and SB Nation Dallas, while Heat fans should check out Peninsula Is Mightier.
See More:
