NBA - Heat clamp down on defense to take Game 1 [video]

MIAMI (NBA) - The saying goes that defense wins championships and the Miami Heat followed that mantra in taking Game 1 of the NBA Finals 92-84.

With their offense failing to fire on all cylinders - they shot just 39 percent from the field - the Heat clamped down on defense, holding the Mavs to 84 points on 37 percent shooting, Dallas' worst offensive outputs of the playoffs by some margin.

The result gave LeBron James his first taste of victory in the NBA Finals.

In 2007, he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the title series, but they were unceremoniously swept 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs.

"D-Wade (Dwyane Wade) said that to me that after the game, congratulated me on my first Finals victory," James said with a smile afterwards.

"It feels good because it's the first game and we played well as a team. We've got a lot of work to do. We come with the same mindset on Thursday."

Both teams got off to poor starts offensively as they combined to make just 10 of 35 combined field goals in the first quarter, with Dallas edging in front 17-16.

They found their shooting touch in the second period and there was nothing to separate them at the half, with the Mavs holding on to their slim lead, 44-43.

A 7-0 run in the first two minutes of the third period gave the Mavs their biggest lead at 51-43.

The Heat though stepped up their defense the rest of the game and the visitors weren't able to score at will anymore.

Good defense in turn led to fastbreak points for the hosts.

A pair of three-pointers by James late in the third period saw Miami head into the final frame with a 65-61 lead, one which they would not relinquish.

Dirk Nowitzki got Dallas within 68-66 early in the fourth quarter, but that is as close as they would get.

Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem scored timely buckets to stretch the lead to nine, 82-73, on the former's three-pointer.

James and Chris Bosh had thunderous dunks in the closing minutes to put stylish finishing touches on the game.

James finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Wade scored 15 of his 22 points after the break. He also grabbed 10 boards and dished out six dimes.

Nowitzki led all scorers with 27,  but shot just seven of 18 from the field.

The German international also tore a tendon in the middle finger of his left hand while trying to strip the ball from Bosh.

“I thought I stripped him (Bosh) clean,” Nowitzki said of the play on which he got injured, "and then I kind of looked down and I couldn’t straighten my finger anymore.

“I guess it will be all right. I have to wear a splint probably for the rest of the playoffs, for a couple of weeks.

"But it will be all right. It’s on my left hand, so I’ll be all right for Thursday.”

Game 2 is in Miami on Thursday.

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