Posted Jun 13 2011 6:25AM
MIAMI (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki has been named MVP of the NBA finals for his huge role in leading the Dallas Mavericks to their first championship.
Although Nowitzki struggled in the Game 6 clincher, he certainly put them in position to win it all, overcoming injury and illness to power fourth-quarter comebacks from deficits of 12, nine and four points in Dallas' previous wins.
The 2007 league MVP won Game 2 with a left-handed layup despite having torn a tendon in the tip of his left middle finger in Game 1.
He scored 10 of his 21 points in the final period of Game 4 despite playing with a 101-degree fever because of a sinus infection.
In Game 5, his driving dunk in the final minutes put Dallas ahead for good.
 | Spurs vs. Clippers: Game 3 The Clippers went ahead big early, but the Spurs put together a huge run to take the lead late and a commanding 3-0 series lead. |
 | Postgame: Gregg Popovich Gregg Popovich talks about climbing out of the hole they created for themselves early in the game. |
 | Duncan's Dish Tim Duncan finds Kawhi Leonard under the basket for the hoop and the harm. |
 | Griffin Posterizes Duncan Blake Griffin goes up and over Tim Duncan for the slam. |
 | Clippers' Charge Blake Griffin buries the jumper, Caron Butler steals the inbounds pass and dishes to Mo Williams for the 3-pointer. |
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