The Dallas Mavericks hosted the speedy Indiana Pacers on the second night of a row. The Pacers had struggled to start the season, entering the game just 2-4, but their pace gave the Mavericks problems last year, sweeping the season series.

Both teams entered with significant injuries, as Indiana was missing Aaron Nesmith and then Derek Lively II was a late scratch for the Mavericks with a shoulder injury.

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The Mavericks got off to a horrible start with no baskets through the first three minutes of the game. Indiana took a 15-2 lead by hitting its first three shots from behind the arc. Dallas finally got its first basket on a three-and-out from Doncic coming out of a timeout. They woke up a little later, cutting the lead to six with four minutes remaining in the quarter.

Naji Marshall finally made his first three of the season with a few minutes left in the quarter, then came down the next time and knocked down a floater through contact to cut the lead to two. Indiana’s hot shooting continued to close out the quarter, however, as Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin and Ben Sheppard scored three-pointers in the final two minutes to maintain a 36-29 lead heading into 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 control the three-point line as Indiana was 7/9 from deep.

With Derek Lively out and Daniel Gafford struggling early, Dallas deployed its small five-man lineup with PJ Washington at center and Naji Marshall playing with the other starters. This lineup featured a fun mix of shooting, defensive versatility and playmaking, which kept Dallas within reach from the opening minutes of the second. Klay Thompson finally hit his first shot of the game on a post-fade, which forced a timeout for Indiana.

Klay hit a corner transition three to bring the lead back to one, then Dinwiddie hit one from the other corner after a Pacers basket to finally tie the game. A Kyrie Irving three with three minutes left gave Dallas the lead. But Indiana regained the lead and led 63-59 at halftime.

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Indiana regained the lead to nine early in the third quarter as the Pacers’ offense remained hot, but an 8-0 run for the Mavs got back to within one. The three in a row from Myles Turner, who was giving the Mavs fits with his spacing, however, still gave them a little cushion.

Dallas was able to stay with them despite Turner’s offensive outburst, which required some shots from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Indiana would go up by about eight, then the Mavs would strike back immediately. A pass from Kyrie Irving from the left, followed by a three from Spencer Dinwiddie, gave them the advantage again with a few seconds left in the third, 95-94. The Pacers would make a field goal to take a 96-95 lead into the fourth, but this offensive shootout showed no signs of slowing down.

The Mavericks stayed small to combat Indiana’s spacing, which left them vulnerable inside at times. The Pacers started the fourth with two consecutive Siakam possessions, scoring on one of them, but the Mavs and Pacers overturned the lead several times in the opening minutes of the final frame.

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

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

A Mathurin finish in transition pushed Indiana’s lead to six with four minutes remaining, then Siakam made it eight on the next possession.

Kyrie Irving cut it to six after the final scheduled media timeout at the three-minute mark, but Mathurin hit a contested three against Doncic to bring it back to nine. Buckets from Doncic and Washington quickly cut the lead to five with 1:03 left. They would still need an improbable finish to come away with a victory in this one.

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

Luka Doncic would finish 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 an adventure with 27 points. Klay Thompson added 16 points and Spencer Dinwiddie also had 14. Just an overall high scoring game.

Myles Turner, however, made the difference. His 30 points and 11 rebounds gave the Mavericks fits all night long. Tyrese Haliburton had arguably his best game of the season with 25 points and 12 assists, and Pascal Siakam was right with him, finishing with 23 points.

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

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

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