2011 NBA Finals
2011 NBA Finals
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA Finals, beating the Miami Heat 4-2. Dirk Nowitzki was named Finals MVP.
The Finals used the 2-3-2 home-court format that year.
See every result since 1947 in the NBA champions by year list.
Who Won the 2011 NBA Finals?
The Dallas Mavericks won the series 4-2 as the Western Conference champion. The title was the first in franchise history.
2011 NBA Finals Series Result
| Champion | Dallas Mavericks |
|---|---|
| Runner-up | Miami Heat |
| Series result | Mavericks win 4-2 |
| Games played | 6 |
| Finals MVP | Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) |
| Season | 2010-11 |
| League | NBA |
| Trophy | Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy |
| Format | Best-of-seven, 2-3-2 |
Results checked against Basketball-Reference on November 14, 2026.
Who Was the 2011 NBA Finals MVP?
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks won the Finals MVP award. Since 2009 the award has been named the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
2011 NBA Finals Results: Game by Game
The series ran from May 31 to June 12, 2011. Miami, the No. 2 seed in the East at 58-24, had home-court advantage over Dallas, the No. 3 seed in the West at 57-25.
| Game | Date | Site | Result | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | May 31 | Miami | Heat 92, Mavericks 84 | Heat lead 1-0 |
| Game 2 | June 2 | Miami | Mavericks 95, Heat 93 | Tied 1-1 |
| Game 3 | June 5 | Dallas | Heat 88, Mavericks 86 | Heat lead 2-1 |
| Game 4 | June 7 | Dallas | Mavericks 86, Heat 83 | Tied 2-2 |
| Game 5 | June 9 | Dallas | Mavericks 112, Heat 103 | Mavericks lead 3-2 |
| Game 6 | June 12 | Miami | Mavericks 105, Heat 95 | Mavericks win 4-2 |
Scores, dates and records checked against the 2011 NBA Finals record on November 14, 2026.
How Did the Mavericks Beat the Heat?
Miami entered as the favorite in the first season of its trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Dallas won three of the last four games, including the title clincher in Miami.
- Game 2: Dallas came back from 15 points down, the biggest comeback in a Finals game since 2008. Dirk Nowitzki hit a late three and the go-ahead layup.
- Game 4: Nowitzki played through the flu, and Jason Terry scored four straight points late to put Dallas ahead. James scored 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
- Game 5: Dallas made 13 of 19 three-pointers.
Who Was the 2011 NBA Finals MVP?
Dirk Nowitzki won Finals MVP, the first German player to win the award. He averaged 26.0 points and 9.7 rebounds and made 97.8% of his free throws. Terry added 18.0 points per game off the bench.
For Miami, Wade averaged 26.5 points. James averaged 17.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists.
Why Do the 2011 NBA Finals Stand Out?
- It was the first title in Mavericks history.
- It was a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals, which Miami won in six games after Dallas led 2-0.
- Coach Rick Carlisle joined the short list of people who have won an NBA title as both a player and a head coach.
- Four future Hall of Famers played: Nowitzki and Jason Kidd for Dallas, Wade and Bosh for Miami.
Miami returned and won the next two titles, in the 2012 and 2013 NBA Finals. See every title winner on the NBA champions list.
2011 NBA Finals FAQ
Who won the 2011 NBA Finals?
The Dallas Mavericks won the 2011 NBA Finals, beating the Miami Heat 4-2.
Who were the 2011 NBA champions?
The Dallas Mavericks were the 2011 champions of the NBA.
Who was the 2011 NBA Finals MVP?
Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks was named Finals MVP.
How many games did the 2011 NBA Finals last?
The series lasted 6 games.
How many championships did the Mavericks have after 2011?
The 2011 title was the first in franchise history.
Which season did the 2011 NBA Finals end?
The 2011 NBA Finals closed the 2010-11 season.
The 2011 NBA Finals ended with the Mavericks beating the Heat 4-2, with Dirk Nowitzki as Finals MVP. For every champion since 1947, see the NBA champions by year list.