Fourth-quarter chemistry again blows up in Heat’s faces

DALLAS — Same old story.

A breathless finish. A wounded superstar. A tepid, fourth-quarter performance by The Artist Formerly Known as LeBron James.

And even with a four-point lead heading into the final minutes Thursday, the Miami Heat_again_couldn’t close the deal.

That

chemistry thing. Bungled it again.

Now the heat really is on the Heat.

After losing in now-customary style to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 here Thursday night, 112-103, Miami is out of options. If the Heat loses one more time in this NBA Finals, they really can take their talents to South Beach.

And their suntan oil. And their fog machine. And a copy of that Miami newspaper with the column that proclaimed the series over after Game 1.

It was far from over, of course. These past four games have been wrenching tugs of war and wills.

The sunshine viewpoint, as espoused by Miami coach Erik Spoelstra: The Heat heads home to reap the rewards of earning the home-court advantage.

The realist’s viewpoint: Spoelstra’s superstar-laden team still can’t seem to perform with championship maturity down the stretch.

And now, it could really be limping, literally. Miami’s Dwyane Wade injured his left hip charging into Brian Cardinal_pardon me, the officials actually called a blocking foul on Cardinal_late in the first quarter.

Wade winced in pain as he staggered and fell at the edge of the court. He was taken to the Miami locker room, but returned to play in the second quarter.

Wade missed more time at the start of the third quarter. But after returning with 4:33 to play in that period, he went the rest of the way, even though he wasn’t his usual flying, scoring self.

Which was all the more reason, of course, to wonder where James was.

Before Game 5, The Chosen One_LeBron remains, if anything, a man of many nicknames_was asked about the urgency of leading his team to a 3-2 series lead.

“I think it’s that time,” James agreed. “I think it’s that time that I try to get myself going individually. But at the same time still play my game.

“And when I say be more aggressive, that doesn’t mean be more aggressive and have to shoot the ball.

“It just means being more aggressive and looking for opportunities to get a look. Still be aggressive but at the same time get guys involved.”

OK, if that’s how the franchise wants to spend its money.

But after the hoopla and The Decision and all that, I thought Miami was getting a mighty force that it could ride to the title_not a hood ornament.

James didn’t play poorly. The scoresheet will show that he had a triple-double, adding 10 rebounds and 10 assists to his 17 points.

But again, the hood ornament thing. With the Mavericks holding an 84-79 lead heading into the final quarter, it was time for LeBron James to stand up and take over the game.

Instead, he was channel-surfing. Four assists in that final period. Ten points for Wade. Eight points for Udonis Haslem.

And for the mighty James, four shots, one field goal, two points.

Where was that self-proclaimed “attack” mode? Where were those “talents” that he once announced he was taking to South Beach?

Game 6 — and possibly Game 7 — will be in Miami, and Spoelstra actually said, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. We worked hard all year to get home-court advantage.

“Nothing we’ve achieved this year has been easy, and it’s certainly not going to start now.”

Talk about whistling in the dark.

Wade wasn’t himself in the second half. His hip contusion figures to be a lingering concern. James’ inability_or unwillingness? — to contribute offensively in the fourth quarter remains a mystery.

And in the most important game of the series, Spoelstra’s defense allowed the Mavericks to shoot 56.5 percent (39 of 69) from the floor.

Now the heat really is on the Heat.

“We look at it the other way,” Spoelstra said. “We’re going home, and we wouldn’t have it any other way than the hard way.

“This is an opportunity for us. That’s why you play a seven-game series. You’ve got to play it out.

“And this is where we feel comfortable.”

Funny, though. The Miami Heat didn’t look comfortable as they left here Thursday night.

Same old story. Couldn’t close the deal.