Lucy Nicholson / Reuters

Miami Heat players (from left to right) Udonis Haslem, Jason Williams, Dwyane Wade, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, coach Pat Riley (holding trophy), James Posey, Antoine Walker and Shaquille O'Neal pose with the NBA championship trophy after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 on Tuesday.

“I came to Miami because of this young fella right here,” O’Neal said, indicating Wade. “I knew I wanted to make him better.”

Dallas’ fans both booed and cheered the trophy presentation, and Stern was jeered repeatedly.

Cuban stole the finals spotlight earlier in the day, getting socked with the fine for his complaints about the officials and general conspiracy theory. All of Dallas caught the Mavs’ us-against-the-world vibe: Signs supporting Cuban and suggesting a league conspiracy against the Mavs dotted the stands for Game 6, and fans screamed at Stern in his courtside seat.

But the series actually was controlled by Wade, who ascended to the most elite tier of NBA stars. He scored 121 points in three victories in Miami before capping it with one more tenacious win.

Riley wiped away tears while hugging his players, and Miami crowded onto the hastily assembled podium with the excitement of a high-school graduation.

Riley, who won his first ring since 1988, claimed he never considered the possibility Miami wouldn’t finish with four straight wins.

“I packed one suit, one shirt and one tie,” he said before the game. “That’s it.”

Riley tied John Kundla with his fifth title as a head coach. Only Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach have more, with nine apiece.

O’Neal, who fought foul trouble, was held to two of his worst career playoff games in the earlier Dallas debacles, and he endured another extraordinary struggle at the free-throw line in the series. None of it will matter to the Big Champ: He’ll take a special pride in winning his first ring without Bryant.

Their partnership resulted in three titles and four finals trips for the Los Angeles Lakers, but their clashing egos caused a power struggle that led to Shaq’s trade. O’Neal has no such problems with Wade, and their cohesion peaked in Miami’s four finals wins.

Riley, the slick-haired strategist who led the Lakers to four titles in the 1980s, now has vindication from those who criticized his decision to take over the club from coach Stan Van Gundy early in the season.

Leaning on Riley’s savvy in coaching veterans and defense, the Heat rolled through the postseason with surprising force — never even facing a seventh game. Riley now has seven rings, counting his single championships as a player and an assistant coach.

And the Heat’s roster is studded with stars who never won a title. Point guard Gary Payton reached the finals with three teams before finally grabbing the ring, while Alonzo Mourning played through 13 seasons, two retirements and a serious kidney ailment for a championship.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Posey, Haslem — all endured serious career troubles, and now they’re all champions, too.

Notes: The Heat became the first team to rally from an 0-2 deficit to win the finals since the NBA went to its 2-3-2 format. Only two other teams ever did it: The Boston Celtics in 1969, and the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. ... Miami hadn’t won in Dallas since 2002.

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Drew Hallowell / Getty Images

Scrappy 76ers force Game 7

A balanced offensive and defensive attack combined with some dreadful shooting by the Boston Celtics helped the Philadelphia 76ers avoid elimination and force a deciding Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 82-75 victory Wednesday night.

Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images Contributor

CSN: 76ers show 'no fear' in win  |  Highlights

CSN: The young and inexperienced 76ers showed no fear with their backs against the wall in Game 6 and earned a final shot against the Celtics on Saturday for a berth into the Eastern Conference finals.

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