Will Mavs’ ‘comeback for the ages’ change series? No.

• Reprints

As great as the Mavericks' 15-point comeback was in Game 2, don't expect it to change the outcome of the series. The Heat are still the better team. | AP

Updated: June 3, 2011 12:51PM

A game-changer? Absolutely.

A series-changer? Very doubtful.

The Dallas Mavericks stunned the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals with a 22-5 run in the final 6:20 of the fourth quarter that wiped out a 15-point deficit and tied the series 1-1 on Thursday night in Miami.

It was eerily reminiscent of the Heat’s equally stunning comeback against the Bulls in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Trailing 77-65 with 3:10 to play, the Heat outscored the Bulls 18-3 down the stretch to win 83-80 and clinch the series.

The Heat’s comeback against the Bulls was the definition of sudden — in 17 minutes of real time, the Bulls went from an almost-certain Game 6 in Miami to elimination.

The Mavericks’ comeback wasn’t quite as sudden — 21 minutes of real time — but even more stunning. Not only was their deficit bigger, but they were on the road, and facing a Heat team that appeared invincible. The Bulls struggled to their 12-point lead against the Heat — they were shooting 36 percent from the field, 31 percent in the fourth quarter at the time. The Heat on the other hand, was dominating the Mavericks — shooting 56 percent, including 4-for-4 in the fourth quarter in building an 88-73 lead.

And while it’s mind-boggling that the game could turn so suddenly and so incredibly, the Mavericks’ comeback doesn’t erase the first 41 minutes of the game. When the Heat beat the Bulls in Game 5, the better team won. When the Mavericks beat the Heat in Game 2 of the Finals, the better team lost. Big difference.

So while the Mavericks hope to ride the wave of momentum, let’s not forget how they fell behind in the first place — by committing 19 turnovers; by allowing the Heat 20 three-point attempts, many of them so wide-open that you or I could have made them; by getting 15 points in 6-of-15 shooting from eventual-hero Dirk Nowitzki; by getting outscored 13-0 early in the fourth quarter; and by getting outscored 9-0 at the end of the second quarter WITH LEBRON JAMES ON THE BENCH WITH TWO FOULS.

It’s hard to believe the Heat is so stunned and the Mavericks are so energized by the near-miraculous comeback that everything that happed before that has been wiped out. LeBron James is still LeBron James. Dwyane Wade is still Dwyane Wade. Peja Stojakovic still can’t guard Chris Bosh. And even Mike Bibby isn’t going to miss too many threes if he’s wide open or if Brian Cardinal’s running at him.

The Mavericks’ comeback was fueled by desperation and a perceived insult when Wade over-celebrated in front of the Mavericks’ bench after hitting a three-pointer from the corner that gave the Heat a seemingly unbeatable 88-73 lead with 7:14 to play.

‘‘Right at that moment, it was a turning point in the game,’’ said Jason Terry, who made 2-of-8 shots when the game was close and 3-of-3 when the Mavericks were down by 15, 13 and six points in the fourth quarter. ‘‘We looked at each guy in the huddle to a man. [I] specifically looked at Dirk and said, ‘There’s no way we’re going out like this. It’s too much time left in the game.

‘‘And for us to go out in a blowout-type fashion with them dunking on us, shooting threes on us, it would have been disheartening. We continued to keep faith in ourselves. We grinded it out and got it done.’’

That they did. But a comeback for the ages sparked by insult and desperation is unlikely to have much staying power — certainly not enough to overcome the gap between these two teams.

You have to win because you want to, not just because you’re down 15 points and Dwyane Wade insulted you. Unless the Mavericks can learn to play like a desperate, insulted team from start to finish, all the Game 2 comeback did was extend the series one game.