NBA: LeBron James declared Game 5 "now or never" for the Heat. And after losing 112-103 on Thursday, Miami is one game away from "never." The Dallas Mavericks shot lights out, knocking down 56.5 percent of their field goals and 68.4 percent of their 3-pointers against one of the league's most stifling defenses. Dirk Nowitzki, over his Game 4 illness, dropped 29 points and was helped by Jose Juan Barea's four 3-pointers. Jason Terry hit a 3-pointer with 33.3 seconds left to seal the victory.
James did have a triple-double in this game but was once again invisible in the fourth quarter, scoring only two points. Dwyane Wade (23 poionts) suffered a left hip bruise with 4:01 left in the first quarter, and while he returned in the second quarter, he played with a noticeable limp. Wade has already vowed to play in Sunday's Game 6 in Miami.
MLB: Justin Verlander fanned 10 and allowed only five hits in eight innings, leading the Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the Mariners. ... The Rockies, after trailing 4-0 and 7-3, scratched out a 9-7 win over the Dodgers. Troy Tulowitzki drove in four runs. ... David Ortiz, who had a single and double in Boston's seven-run seventh, helped Josh Beckett top CC Sabathia for the third time this season. After last night's 8-3 win, the Red Sox hold a two-game lead in the AL East, a season high for the division. ... The Oakland A's, after dropping nine straight games, fired manager Bob Geren. Geren's replacement is former Mariners and Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin.
