INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time this season a small group of fans were welcomed to Bankers Life Fieldhouse as the Pacers came off of their road trip. Folks were excited to see their home town team for the first time since March. However, it didn’t end well for Indiana.
The Dallas Mavericks pulled up to Bankers Life Fieldhouse struggling with their first three game losing streak in almost two years and caught the short-handed Pacers stalled at the light. When the smoke cleared they’d given the Indiana their second straight double digit loss as they walked out of the joint with a 124-112 win.
Myles Turner, the NBA’s leading shot blocker, was sidelined with a fractured right hand. The newly acquired Caris Levert received a warm welcome from the home crowd. He’s out indefinitely after an MRI found a mass on his kidney.
Indiana struggled to find its way all night as the Mavs led most of the night.
Kristaps Porzingis led Dallas with a season high 27 points and 12 rebounds. Luka Doncic came through with a triple double as he dropped off 13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
Malcolm Brogdon led the Pacers with 26 points as Domantas Sabonis dropped off his usual double-double finishing with 25 points and 10 rebounds. That was a franchise record 14 in a row double-doubles. NUTS!!!
Indiana struggle out of the gate giving up 37 points in the first quarter. They allowed the Mavs to go on a 15-3 run as they jumped out to a 37-22 lead late in the opening quarter.
The Pacers clawed their way back into the game to get to the break only down 65-63. However, Porzingis exploded to score all 9 points when the Mavs went on a 9-2 run in the third quarter to extend their lead to 84-76.
Indiana continued to fight as they tied it up at 86 on a Brogdon 3-pointer. He caught fire as he dropped another 3 to take an 89-88 lead and then he sunk a layup to put the Pacers up 91-88.
However, Dallas wasn’t going away that easily playa. They went on a 13-3 run and never looked back.
Indiana hosts the Orlando Magic on Friday.
