Mavericks lead Pacers 77-43 at halftime as Cooper Flagg stuffs the stat sheet
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Dallas led 44-27 after one quarter. A 17-4 run to start the second made it 61-31.
- Cooper Flagg has 14 points, 6 assists and 3 steals at the break. Kyrie Irving has 13.
- Indiana was favored by 6.5 points but trails by 34. Jarace Walker made a surprise start.
The Dallas Mavericks lead the Indiana Pacers 77-43 at halftime. The game is at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
It is the Pacers' first home game of the 2026-27 NBA season. Dallas has led from the opening tip.
What happened
A fast start
Dallas scored at will in the first quarter. The Mavericks shot 16 of 23 from the field.
They made 8 of 13 three-pointers. They reached 1.69 points per possession, according to IndyStar's live blog from the arena.
Cooper Flagg had 12 points in the quarter. He did not miss a shot.
Andrew Nembhard had 11 for Indiana. He was the only Pacer keeping the game close.
The lead grows
The second quarter started even worse for Indiana. Dallas opened the period on a 17-4 run. The lead reached 61-31 early in the frame.
The Mavericks already had 30 points in the paint. They shot close to 60% as a team. The Pacers shot under 40%.
Zaccharie Risacher hurt Indiana in transition. Marcus Sasser hit two threes off the bench. At halftime the score was 77-43, with Flagg at 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and a block.
A lineup surprise
Jarace Walker started at small forward for Indiana. It was a surprise choice by coach Rick Carlisle. Walker had scored only 3 points in the season opener.
Aaron Nesmith was back from a hamstring strain. NBC Sports reported Walker took Kelly Oubre's spot in the five. The idea was to match Dallas' size.
Ben Sheppard could miss several weeks. He has a left meniscus injury. That is what Carlisle told reporters before the game, according to IndyStar.
Why it matters
A response to a bad opener
Dallas lost its first game 128-110 to Houston. The Mavericks trailed 70-38 at halftime in that one. They gave the ball away 21 times.
They made only 11 of 37 threes. Tonight's first half is a clear answer to that poor night.
Kyrie is back
Kyrie Irving is playing in his first regular-season game in 597 days. He tore his left ACL on March 3, 2025.
He scored 15 points in the season opener. He has 13 at halftime tonight. Dallas is still learning how to pair him with Flagg.
Flagg keeps shining
Flagg is the reigning Rookie of the Year. He was the top draft pick. He scored 32 points in the season opener.
That included 23 points after halftime. Tonight he filled every column of the box score in the first half alone.
The Pacers had high hopes
Indiana won its opener 123-120 at New Orleans. Tyrese Haliburton had 23 points and 12 assists. It was his first regular-season game since he tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Pascal Siakam scored 30. Ivica Zubac had 16 points and 15 rebounds.
The Pacers were 6.5-point favorites tonight, according to the betting lines in the SI preview. Instead they trail by 34 at the break.
Indiana is 40-49 all-time against Dallas. The Mavericks won both meetings last season.
What happens next
The second half
Dallas wants to protect its big lead. Indiana needs a fast third quarter.
The Pacers' starters must find a way to score. A 34-point gap is huge, but the game is not over.
The weekend ahead
The Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. The Pacers visit the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The two teams meet again in Dallas on November 9.
Where to watch
Fans in Indiana can watch on DAZN. Fans in Dallas can watch on KFAA or MavsTV+. The Pacers' radio feed is on 93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis.
More NBA from Rive News
- The Bucks edged the Bulls 62-61 at halftime, with big nights from Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Norman Powell: Bulls-Bucks halftime score and player stats
- Toronto heads to Washington for Friday's game with both teams 1-0: Raptors-Wizards NBA Friday preview
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to 2 points in a half against the Nuggets: Thunder-Nuggets stats
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