by Raegan Walsh
The East and West’s sixth-ranked teams will face off Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time this regular season.
The Indiana Pacers find themselves with a completely different team since their last matchup against the Dallas Mavericks on March 27, 2023, where they fell 127-104 in Indianapolis. With both Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner absent in that most recent matchup, having them back this go around with the addition of a new Pacer, Pascal Siakam, could make for a different outcome.
The Blue and Gold will also have had two days of rest before taking to the floor for the second game of their four-game homestand.
Indiana enters the matchup following a solid 129-115 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. In their first game post-All-Star break, the Pacers allowed their fewest points in a half this season as they led at halftime, 72-43.
The six Pacers in double figures were led by All-Star starter Haliburton’s 25 points and 12 assists. T.J. McConnell followed behind with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists, Siakam added 20 points, Bennedict Mathurin contributed 15 points while Turner scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.
Indiana has remained at the top of the league this season in points (123.8 ppg), assists (31.0 apg), field goal percentage (50.8 percent), and points in the paint (57.4 ppg). On the other hand, Dallas ranks far behind in these respective categories, finding itself at seventh in offensive output (118.7 ppg), 22nd in assists (25.6 apg), 13th in field goal percentage (47.8 percent), and 27th for points scored in the paint (46.3 points).
With five Mavericks averaging double-figures this season, Dallas has found itself in potential playoff position this season after finishing 11th last season – where the Pacers most recently found them in the final meeting between the teams last March. Dallas most recently defeated the Phoenix Suns, 123-113, in their first game back from the All-Star break on Thursday, their seventh win in a row.
The star-studded dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving lead the Mavericks, with five-time All-Star Doncic averaging 34.3 points, 9.6 assists and 8.8 rebounds per contest this season and eight-time All-Star Irving averaging 25.6 points per contest.
Tim Hardaway Jr. follows behind averaging 17.2 points per game, and P.J. Washington Jr. is adding 13.3 points per game after being traded from Charlotte on February 8.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Bennedict Mathurin, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Mavericks: G – Luka Doncic, G – Kyrie Irving, F – Josh Green, F – P.J. Washington, C – Dereck Lively II
Injury Report
Pacers: Jalen Smith – questionable (lower back spasms), Aaron Nesmith – out (right ankle sprain)
Mavericks: Luka Doncic – probable (broken nose), Maxi Kleber – probable (nasal fracture), Dereck Lively II – probable (nasal fracture), Dante Exum – out (right knee bursitis), Olivier-Maxence Prosper – out (G League assignment)
Last Meeting
March 27, 2023: Dallas sought revenge over a 124-122 Pacers win a month prior as it defeated Indiana, 127-104, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the second and final game between the two teams last season. Indiana was shorthanded in the loss as they played without Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield and Chris Duarte as they recovered from injuries and illnesses.
Bennedict Mathurin led the way for the Blue and Gold with 26 points, while Andrew Nembhard followed behind with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists. In addition, T.J. McConnell added 15 points and a team-high seven assists off the bench.
Indiana struggled from the floor shooting 41.9 percent (39-of-93) while the Mavericks shot 56.6 percent (47-of-83). The Indiana reserves were also outscored by the Dallas reserves, 58-33.
It was a pair of large scoring runs in the second and third quarters that allowed the Mavericks to take as much as a 25-point lead going into the fourth frame and ultimately secure the win. Luka Doncic finished team-highs of 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Kyrie Irving contributed 16 points and six assists.
Noteworthy
- This is the first matchup between the two teams during the 2023-24 regular season. Indiana will travel to Dallas for the second and final matchup of the series March 5.
- Indiana is 36-47 all-time with Dallas, and 21-20 at home.
- Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle served as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks for 13 seasons (2008-09 to 2020-21). During this stint, he led the Mavericks to nine playoff appearances, including Dallas’ first NBA title in 2011.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Originally posted on pacers.com