DALLAS, TX — The Dallas Mavericks (34-27) entered their second game of a three-game home stand in Dallas as they welcomed the Indiana Pacers (34-28). Both teams came into this game with almost the same record, the Pacers having one more loss than Dallas. The Mavs are currently eighth in the west and are trying to secure a playoff spot. Dallas has now lost five of their last six matchups after losing to the Pacers 137-120.
The first half was neck and neck. Luka Doncic had 17 points midway through the second quarter and that was pretty much all Dallas had going on offense, everyone else was pretty quiet. The Pacers stayed in the game due to the help of their bench players. Their bench players had 36 points going into the half and played a big role in their lead going into the locker room, led by Bennedick Mathurin with 14 points.
Doncic finished the half with 28 points.
The Pacers took a 74-70 lead at the half.
Indiana came out hot and took the third quarter. The Pacers went on a 19-6 run to open up the third quarter giving them a 18-point lead over Dallas. This happened last game for the Mavs. They seem to get into a slump in the second half and see some significant deficits because of it. The Mavs were down 19 to the 76’ers on Sunday, they ended up coming back and only losing by four but they were down double-digits almost the whole second half.
Dallas did do better this game with turnovers. They only had seven entering the fourth quarter, last game they had 12 in the first half alone.
Indiana had 69 points off the bench tonight.
Indiana took the third quarter outscoring Dallas 32-18 giving them an 18-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The lead carried well into the fourth quarter, Pacers having the largest lead of the night of 20. With 6:32 remaining in regulation Indiana had a 14-point lead.
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. He now has 41 triple-doubles in his career when scoring 30 points or more.
Kyrie Irving had 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Nine players scored in double figures for the Pacers and outscored the mavs on the bench 69-32.
The Mavs will be back in American Airlines Center on Thursday to face the Miami Heat at 6:30 PM.
