Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Trailing by 15 points with only 5 minutes to play in one of the NBA’s rowdiest arenas, the Dallas Mavericks were just wishing and hoping for the best.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidddelivered, and the Mavs suddenly find themselves only one win away from the NBA finals.

Nowitzki scored 40 points, Kidd hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left in overtime and the Mavericks staged an improbable rally to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder112-105 on Monday night and take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

“You’re lying if you’re not surprised. Down 15 with 5 minutes to play you’re thinking hopefully something can happen,” Dallas center Brendan Haywood said. “You’re just kind of wishing.”

Dallas didn’t lead until Nowitzki hit two free throws 16 seconds into overtime, needing to rally from a 99-84 deficit in the final 5 minutes of regulation. The Mavericks never let the Thunder — who were one win shy of tying an NBA record with eight OT wins in the regular season — go ahead in the extra period.

“There’s times and situations where they are going to test the courage and the mental inner strength of your team,” said Jason Terry, who scored 20 for Dallas. “This was one of those times.

“This was a defining moment in our season where we look back and say, ‘Hey, that was the game.’ ”

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