updated 1:44 a.m. ET June 4, 2006

PHOENIX - They were once the model franchise. Then they were the Mav-wrecks.

Now they’re headed to the NBA finals for the first time.

In their 26th season, the Dallas Mavericks finally headed to the championship round, thanks to an impressive 102-93 comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night that ended the Western Conference finals in six games.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry struggled as Dallas went down by 18 early, then the duo powered a 20-4 run that put the Mavs ahead early in the fourth quarter. They never trailed again, ensuring that the most important victory in franchise history would be a memorable one, too.

“When I first got to Dallas, nobody really knew us,” Nowitzki sad. “Nobody was paying attention to the Mavericks really. Then Mark (Cuban) took over and we got better and better and we got to be a playoff team. It’s been a fun ride. Hopefully we can take it to the next level and bring this franchise a ring.”

In the postgame exuberance, there were chants of “M-V-P” for Nowitzki, tears in the eyes of Cuban and lumps in the throat of former stars like Derek Harper and Rolando Blackman, plus assistant GM Keith Grant, one of the club’s first employees.

Most of all, though, there was praise for their unquestioned leader, coach Avery Johnson, who kept his team focused on winning a championship since the day he replaced Don Nelson in March 2005.

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“This opportunity comes from a guy by the name of coach Avery Johnson being able to implement that thought in the guys’ heads, that they can get this done,” said Blackman, now an assistant coach. “All he’s talked about is having the opportunity to win a championship: How many guys are on board? Who really wants to be able to get it done? He’s made them live up to that standard throughout the whole year.”

As Cuban received the trophy for winning the Western Conference, Johnson stood a few feet away, an arm on a hip and looking down. Cuban’s voice cracked as he discussed his appreciation for Johnson pushing the club this far. Seeing how solemn Johnson looked during it all, reserve guard Marquis Daniels hollered, “Smile, AJ!”

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He did, but not for long. After all, he only has until Thursday to figure out how to slow Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

“We signed up to win the championship,” he said. “We’re delighted to be there. But we’re not satisfied.”

As a reward for winning 60 games in the regular season, the Mavericks own home-court advantage, meaning the first two games — and Games 6 and 7, if necessary — will be in Dallas.

With Miami also a first-time finalist, this will be the first time since 1971, when the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Baltimore Bullets, that both teams are making their championship-round debut.

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