DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks (34-27) host the Indiana Pacers (34-28) entering Game 2 of a three-game homestand in Dallas. Both teams entered this game with nearly identical records, with the Pacers having one more loss than Dallas. The Mavs currently sit in eighth place in the West Division and are aiming for a playoff spot. Dallas lost 137-120 to the Pacers and has lost five of its last six games.
It was a close game in the first half. Luka Doncic scored 17 points midway through the second quarter, but that was pretty much all Dallas continued to do on offense, and everyone else was pretty quiet. The Pacers stayed in the game with the help of their bench players. The players on the bench played a big role in scoring 36 points at the start of the first half, with Benedick Mathurin leading the way going into the locker room with 14 points.
Doncic finished the first half with 28 points.
The Pacers led 74-70 at the half.
Indiana continued to play well and took over the third quarter. The Pacers went on a 19-6 run to start the third quarter and took an 18-point lead against Dallas. This happened in the Mavs' last game. They fell into a slump in the second half, and it looks like they are expected to suffer a large deficit as a result. The Mavs trailed by 19 points Sunday against the 76'ers, but although they eventually came back and lost by only four points, they trailed by double digits for most of the second half.
Dallas did a better job with turnovers in this game. Only seven players entered the fourth quarter, compared to 12 in the first half last game.
Indiana scored 69 points off the bench tonight.
Indiana defeated Dallas 32-18 in the third quarter and entered the fourth with an 18-point lead.
This lead held steady until the fourth quarter, when the Pacers held their largest lead of the night. With 6:32 left in regulation time, Indiana held a 14-point lead.
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. He currently has 41 triple-doubles of 30 points or more in his career.
Kyrie Irving had 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The Pacers had nine players score in double figures and outscored the Mavs on the bench 69-32.
The Mavs return to American Airlines Center on Thursday to take on the Miami Heat at 6:30 p.m.
