Miami evens series with 24-point triumph

MIAMI -- Dwyane Wade's tender knee held up fine, and so did home-court advantage for the Miami Heat.

The NBA finals aren't over -- not even close. They've only just begun.

Wade, barely able to walk on a badly banged-up left knee 24 hours earlier, scored 36 points and Shaquille O'Neal added 17 and 13 rebounds as the Heat downed the Dallas Mavericks 98-74 Thursday night to even the series 2-2.

"I think this is our first almost-good game," O'Neal said. "We're picking it up. Different series now, 2-2."

Close to taking a 3-0 series lead just two nights before, the Mavs are somewhat of a wreck.

Jason Terry scored 17 points to lead Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki added 16, but rolled his left ankle taking a jumper with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter and favored it the rest of the way.