The Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 15-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to beat the host Miami Heat 95-93 Thursday in game two of the National Basketball Association championship series.

The Heat held an 88-73 lead with more than six minutes left in regulation when the Mavericks went on a 17-2 run to tie the game at 90-90 with less than a minute left, capped by a two-point layup by star forward Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki then hit a three-point shot to give Dallas the lead with just 27 second left in the game.

Moments later, the Heat tied the game again thanks to a defensive lapse by the Mavericks that left Mario Chalmers wide open for a three-point shot. But Nowitzki answered with another two-point layup that proved to be the winning score. The German star finished the game with 24 points, nine of them during the Mavericks' late-game comeback.

Dwayne Wade led Miami with 36 points, but missed a last-second three-point shot that would have won the game for the Heat.

The best-of-seven series, now tied at one game apiece, moves to Dallas for game three on Sunday.