Cooper Flagg scored 43 points and Kyrie Irving added 35 as the Dallas Mavericks erased a 13-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122 at the American Airlines Center on Monday night. The pair combined for 78 points, shooting 27 of 43 from the field including 10 of 16 from beyond the arc, leading the Mavericks to a 7-4 record.
Flagg, the 6-foot-9 wing playing shooting guard, went 16 of 25 from the floor with three 3-pointers and hit all eight free throws. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out six assists. Irving, a 15-year veteran and nine-time All-Star, looked sharp with 11 of 18 shooting and 7 of 10 on 3-pointers, showing no signs of rust from his ACL tear last year.
The Pacers, now 3-8 after their second straight loss, started strong with Pascal Siakam carrying the offense. Siakam scored 26 points in the first half on 8 of 9 shooting, including five 3-pointers, while adding six rebounds and four assists without turning the ball over or committing a foul. But the veteran forward struggled in the second half under heavy defensive pressure, scoring just three points on 1 of 7 shooting.
Indiana also got 18 points from Aaron Nesmith and 16 from center Ivica Zubac. Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting and provided a defensive presence off the bench, an improvement from his season averages of 8.5 points and 2.4 rebounds.
The Pacers’ strong first half included good ball movement and solid defense, but they were unable to contain the Mavericks’ backcourt duo. Flagg and Irving took control down the stretch. Flagg answered three Nesmith free throws with a critical jumper that put Dallas up by four points with just over a minute left. After Nesmith hit a 3-pointer, Flagg scored again off an offensive rebound with 26 seconds remaining to extend the lead to three.
Irving then sealed the win by sinking two key free throws in the final seconds. The Mavericks rallied from a 13-point deficit to finish with 125 points, while the Pacers managed 122.
With Tyrese Haliburton still sidelined, the Pacers have leaned on Siakam to provide scoring and leadership. He entered the game averaging 21.4 points per game on 51.7% shooting but had only passed 25 points twice this season. His first-half performance against Dallas was his best yet. The defensive focus he faced in the second half limited his impact as Indiana could not hold off the Mavericks’ comeback.
Flagg’s breakout night was a major factor in Dallas’ win. Playing a shooting guard role despite his height, he showed scoring versatility and defensive effort. Irving’s veteran poise and shooting made the difference in crunch time.
The Mavericks will look to build on this win as they continue their push toward a playoff spot, while the Pacers face mounting pressure to find answers with their key players out and offensive struggles in the second half.
According to Yahoo Sports.
