Inside Report: NBA Finals Game 4 preview — Miami Heat (2-1) at Dallas Mavericks (1-2)

Earl K. Sneed previews Game 4 of the NBA Finals, as the Dallas Mavericks try to avoid facing a 1-3 hole in the series while trying to even things up against the Miami Heat in the second of three straight games at the American Airlines Center.

DALLAS — Despite facing an uphill climb, the Dallas Mavericks aren’t ready to concede the championship chase to the Miami Heat after just three games in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series.

The Mavericks, who hadn’t trailed in any of their playoff series through the first three rounds, have now faced two deficits in the Finals after losing Game 1 in Miami and Sunday night’s Game 3 to start a stretch of three straight home games. Now, the team will try to avoid facing a three-games-to-one disadvantage with a victory on Tuesday night, looking to avenge an 88-86 loss decided the final seconds of Game 3.

“My view hasn’t changed,” forward Dirk Nowitzki said after scoring a game-high 34 points and grabbing 11 rebounds but missing a game-tying shot at the buzzer. “[Game 3] definitely was a big game, and a very tough loss. Emotional game, fought back, and to fall short at the end is tough. But they need two more. … Hopefully we can play a better all-around game and finally get some shots to go down here at home and see what happens Tuesday. Like I said, this is a tough loss, and it’s basically a must-win situation on Tuesday. We can’t go down 3-1.”

“I think we’ve been playing behind since Game 3 in [Oklahoma City], so this isn’t anything new,” point guard Jason Kidd added. “So, we have to be prepared mentally and physically come [Tuesday night] and protect home. We’ve gotta take one game at a time, and [Tuesday] we have to be focused and ready to go.”

But the Mavs can’t deny that the difficult task that lies ahead is even more of an uphill climb according to Finals history, with the winner of Game 3 in a 1-1 series unbeaten at 11-0 since the championship showdown went to a 2-3-2 format in 1985. And in order to keep the Heat from becoming the 12th team on that list, the Mavs admit that they will have to avoid their early deficits and lend Nowitzki more support against Miami’s Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Looking to avoid falling in an early hole, much like Game 3 when the Heat jumped out to a lead as large as 14, the Mavericks will try not to put so much on the broad shoulders of their superstar, after Nowitzki followed up his game-winning layup in Game 2 with another masterful performance on Sunday night, which included 15 points in the fourth quarter to power a comeback albeit in a loss.

“Right now in the series, that’s pretty much what we’re doing. We have to figure out how to get in front and play from up front. … [Nowitzki] loves that stage late. He wants the ball, and he’s always come through. So, again … somebody else has to step up and help him on the offensive end,” Kidd explained.

“Well, I think they do a good job on our shooters. I think our ability to spread the floor and shoot is a big reason why we made it to the Finals, to really spread the ball around and shoot and make timely and big shots,” Nowitzki added. “But for some reason, they’re so long and athletic on the perimeter that they’re able to swarm me and my post-ups, and when we swing, they’re still athletic and quick enough to get to our shooters on the weak side and run them off, or at least contest them. You have to give them credit. We just looked at the film. We had some opportunities. … And if we get those opportunities, we’ve got to make the most out of it.”

The Mavs will also try to protect the ball better, after surrendering 50 Heat points off 34 turnovers in Games 2 and 3 combined. And with the Heat’s talented trio all capable of scoring in transition to take over the game while capitalizing off Dallas’ miscues, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle confesses that better ball protection is crucial to his team’s success.

“They were the best in the league during the season. No. 1 at converting steals into points,” Carlisle said of the Heat. “In many cases it’s just turnovers in general. … So, it’s a good example of the importance of taking care of the ball.”

In addition, the Mavs hope to have backup big man Brendan Haywood back on the floor, after the 7-footer sat out Sunday night’s loss due to a strained right hip flexor suffered in the second half of Game 2. And as his team tries to avoid a second straight loss and an unfavorable 1-3 deficit in the series, Haywood’s status for Tuesday night remains unclear after his limited participation in the team’s Monday practice.

“I think really, really striding out is a problem, and sometimes just making explosive plays under the basket is a problem,” Haywood said of the injury. “I feel like I need to be able to go out there and play a normal game at least at 70, 80 percent.”

With or without him, the Mavericks will take the court in an attempt at tying the series at 2-2, with Game 5 once again at home on Thursday night and an opportunity to reclaim the home-court advantage within reach before the championship duel shifts back to Miami. So, with the support of the hometown Dallas fans in what Nowitzki says is a must-win game, the Mavericks and their crowd will not only try to steal the momentum back from the Heat, but also try to rewrite NBA history in the process.

Note: The Mavericks will host Game 4 at the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night, in a game that tip off at 8 p.m. CT and air nationally on ABC. Tickets for the Finals are on sale now. Visit Mavs.com for details or call 214-747-MAVS (6287).

All of the Mavs home Finals games at American Airlines Center will be a MAVS ROYAL BLUE-OUT!

Every seat at the American Airlines Center will have a MAVS ROYAL BLUE playoff T-shirt placed in it. We need for you and every Mavs fan to show their Mavs pride. So, dress ready to put on your MAVS ROYAL BLUE playoff T-shirt when you get to your seat.