Thought to be far past his prime and hanging onto a thread created by only his dogged defense, "Thunder" Dan Majerle

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is a shadow of the player that had a prominent role in the Phoenix Suns' successful run in the early to mid-'90s.

Yet, it was Thunder who created the biggest rumblings in Game 5 of this best-of-7 series between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks.

In the waning moments, the game was in balance and so was the Heat's season. Miami clung to a slim four-point lead and faced the realization of going back to New York facing elimination. Alonzo Mourning wasn't a factor as he fought off foul trouble as well as Knicks defenders. Jamal Mashburn, the team's second option, had grown cold after a fast start. Miami's offense was stagnant, having missed on nine of its first fourth-quarter attempts.

The offense had to come from somewhere. And it came in the unlikely form of Thunder Dan.

Majerle scored 10 of his 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter, including two crucial back-to-back 3-pointers that helped Miami to an 87-81 victory over New York and put the Heat ahead in the series 3-2. The series shifts back to New York for Game 6 on Friday.

Majerle's late-game heroics staved off the Knicks and possibly elimination for the Heat. After beginning the fourth period by missing its first nine field goals, Miami's nine-point lead (which is like a 15-point lead to these two defensive-minded teams) was whittled to four. But Miami was able to withstand New York's run courtesy of Majerle, who had a hand -- both directly and indirectly -- in Miami's final three field goals of the game, all from beyond the arch.

"I'm just happy to contribute," said Majerle, who had made just five 3-pointers in the previous four games of this series. "First and foremost, I'm happy to get the win and defend the home court. That's the most important thing.

"I've always had confidence in my shots and my ability. Someone had to make plays and it just so happened to be me."

With 2:30 left to play, Majerle took a pass from 'Zo at the top of the key and sank a 3-pointer to increase Miami's bulge to seven points. But just as history would indicate between these two evenly matched teams, Majerle's first shot didn't prove to be the knockout blow, only the jab as New York had an answer with Charlie Ward's 3-pointer on the ensuing trip down court.

There were more Majerle heroics to come. The first shot was only a prelim.

Majerle then sank a 3-pointer from somewhere near Key West as the shot clock wound down, the ball in midflight toward the rim as the buzzer sounded. Minutes later, with 'Zo on the bench with six fouls and a glimmer of life in the Knicks' hopes, Majerle's penetration and dish to an open Bruce Bowen sealed Miami's victory. Bowen knocked down the 3-pointer and gave the Heat an insurmountable six-point lead with 35 seconds left.

"Dan definitely made the difference in the game," Mourning said. "He hit some big shots for us. And he hit another one from a (different) area code."

Dan Majerle takes over the fourth quarter to help the Heat to victory.(AP)

Said Riley: "Danny's always a great threat even though we don't go to him much. Those two (shots) he made at the end were big, very big."

Along with Majerle's offensive effort, his defense on counterpart Allan Houston was just as much a factor in the game. Houston, who scored six points in the first quarter, finished the game with only 12 on 4-of-10 shooting.

"Majerle does a good job, they stay at home on (Houston)," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "But certainly we can't live with that point differential at the two-guard spot.

"He's a really knowledgeable player," Van Gundy continued about Majerle. "He plays terrific defense and help defense. He passes the ball well and is a good rebounding guard. I have no idea why he's so underrated."

The Miami Heat were able to turn away the Knicks, the same way an unlikely source was able to turn back the clock. With Mourning on the bench, Mashburn unable to find his touch and Tim Hardaway still hampered by a sprained foot it was the grizzled veteran, who had become an afterthought, that came through for the Heat.

"Dan's a great defender," Mashburn said. "He's accepted that role here. He hits timely jumpers. He's done it so many times in his career that you have to honor him.

"He's just a great clutch performer who has to be respected on the defense and offensive end."