Myles Turner, Pacers outlast Mavericks in high-scoring affair, 134-127

The Dallas Mavericks hosted the fast-paced Indiana Pacers for the second night in a row. The Pacers had struggled early in the season, going just 2-4, but their pace gave the Mavericks problems last year and won the season series.

Both teams entered with serious injuries, with Aaron Nesmith missing at Indiana and Dereck Lively II being late for the Mavericks with a shoulder injury.

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The Mavericks got off to a terrible start as they didn't score any baskets in the first three-plus minutes of the game. Indiana took a 15-2 lead when they hit their first three shots from behind the arc. Dallas finally scored its first basket on a stepback three by Doncic after a timeout. After that, they woke up a little and reduced the lead to six with four minutes left in the quarter.

With a few minutes left in the quarter, Naji Marshall finally made his first three-pointer of the season, then came down the next time and knocked down a floater through contact, cutting the lead to two. Indiana's hot shooting continued to close out the quarter, however, as Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin and Ben Sheppard scored on threes in the final two minutes to take a 36-29 lead early in the second quarter.

Luka Doncic and Naji Marshall had 25 of Dallas' 29 points in the first quarter, so they needed someone else to contribute. They also had to get control of the three-point line as Indiana was 7/9 from deep.

With Dereck Lively sidelined and Daniel Gafford in early foul trouble, Dallas deployed its small-five lineup with PJ Washington at center and Naji Marshall along with the other starters. This lineup featured an entertaining mix of shooting, defensive versatility and playmaking that kept Dallas within striking distance in the opening minutes of the second. Klay Thompson finally hit his first shot of the game after a fade, forcing a timeout for Indiana.

Klay shot a three on a transition corner to cut the lead to one, then Dinwiddie shot one from the other corner after a Pacers basket to tie the game for good. A three-pointer from Kyrie Irving within three minutes gave Dallas the lead. But Indiana took the lead back and led 63-59 at halftime.

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Indiana pushed the lead back to nine early in the third quarter as the Pacers' offense stayed hot, but an 8-0 run for the Mavs got it right back to one. However, two consecutive threes from Myles Turner, who demanded a lot from the Mavs with his distance, gave them a small cushion again.

Dallas was able to stay with them despite Turner's offensive explosion, which required some shots from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Indiana would go up by about eight points, then the Mavs would immediately bounce back. A powerful left-handed finish from Kyrie Irving, followed by a three-pointer from Spencer Dinwiddie, gave them the lead again, 95-94, with just a few seconds left in the third. The Pacers made a basket to take a 96-95 lead in the fourth period, but this offensive shootout showed no signs of slowing down.

The Mavericks stayed small to compensate for Indiana's spacing, which left them vulnerable inside at times. The Pacers began the fourth period with Siakam scoring on back-to-back possessions, but the Mavs and Pacers traded the lead several times in the opening minutes of the final frame.

Jason Kidd called a timeout after the hectic first four minutes of the quarter, leaving Indiana with a 110-106 lead. The defense that had been so strong for the Mavs was missing without the versatility of Dereck Lively.

After the timeout, Klay Thompson hit a three-pointer that went right to bring the lead back to one. Then, after a few traded baskets, Dinwiddie tied the game with a push shot in the lane. Indiana missed a few chances to convert that could have given them a bigger advantage, but instead it allowed Dallas to stay in the game.

A Mathurin completion in transition increased Indiana's lead to six with four minutes left, and then Siakam increased it to eight on the next possession.

Kyrie Irving made it six after three minutes after the last scheduled media timeout, but Mathurin fired a contested three-pointer over Doncic to push the score back to nine. Balls from Doncic and Washington quickly cut the lead to five with 1:03 left. They would still need an unlikely finish to win this game.

Tyrese Haliburton hit a free throw at the line to increase the lead to seven, and Luka Doncic missed a fadeaway and that would be all she wrote. Indiana would win 134-127.

Luka Doncic finished the game with 34 points and 15 assists, but wasn't very efficient, shooting just 9/24 from the field. Naji Marshall easily had his best game as a Maverick, contributing 20 points, six assists and five rebounds for just his sixth career 20-point game. Kyrie Irving also had a high-scoring affair with 27 points. Klay Thompson added 16 points and Spencer Dinwiddie also had 14. Just an overall high scoring game.

However, Myles Turner made the difference. His 30 points and 11 rebounds gave the Mavericks thrills all night long. Tyrese Haliburton had arguably his best game of the season with 25 points and 12 assists, and Pascal Siakam fit the bill, finishing the game with 23 points.

Dallas' defense just wasn't good enough on Monday night. The Pacers have been a strong team for them over the past few seasons and tonight was no exception as the Pacers shot 54/95 from the field and 13/32 from three balls.

Dallas will still be at home for its next game on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

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