DALLAS — Cooper Flagg scored 43 points on 16-of-25 shooting, and the Dallas Mavericks came back from a double-digit first-half deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122 on Monday night.
DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 09: Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 2026 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)
Flagg added 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals. He made 3 of 6 three-point attempts and all eight of his free throws, and committed five turnovers.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, shooting 5 of 8 from three-point range. Aaron Nesmith scored 18, Ivica Zubac had 16 on 5-of-7 shooting, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 14, and Andrew Nembhard finished with 12 points and 12 assists.
The win was Dallas’ third in a row and lifted the Mavericks to 7-4. It came on the second night of a back-to-back, a day after a 130-93 home win over Brooklyn. Indiana fell to 3-8. Dallas has won both meetings between the teams this season, after a 121-105 victory in Indianapolis on Oct. 23.
How it unfolded
Indiana controlled the first half. The Pacers led 31-26 after one quarter and 66-56 at halftime, and a 13-0 run in the second quarter helped build a lead that peaked at 13 points.
Dallas closed the gap after the break, outscoring Indiana 34-27 in the third quarter to trail 93-90 entering the fourth. The Mavericks then won the final period 35-29. Their largest lead of the night was eight points.
By the numbers
The two teams shot almost identically. Each made 43 field goals, with Indiana shooting 52.4% to Dallas’ 51.8%. The Pacers made 15 of 35 three-pointers; the Mavericks made 14 of 34. Each team scored 46 points in the paint.
The clearest separation came on the glass and at the line. Dallas held a 57-40 rebounding edge, and its players collected 10 offensive rebounds to Indiana’s one, producing a 16-3 advantage in second-chance points. The Mavericks also made 25 of 34 free throws, compared with 21 of 28 for Indiana, and had a 14-10 edge in fast-break points.
Indiana’s strengths were in ball movement and depth. The Pacers recorded 35 assists on 43 baskets, compared with 26 for Dallas, and their bench outscored the Mavericks’ reserves 47-26. Turnovers were close: Dallas committed 15 and Indiana 13.
Supporting cast
DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 09: Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford (21) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 2026 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/DFWsportsonline)
Beyond Flagg, Kyrie Irving scored 35 points. P.J. Washington had 13 points and nine rebounds for Dallas. Santi Aldama scored 10. Daniel Gafford had eight points and was a team-best plus-15 in his minutes. Caleb Martin was held scoreless but had five assists; he was also assessed a technical foul.
Despite his scoring total, Flagg finished with a minus-8 plus/minus, an indication that Dallas did much of its damage with him on the bench in some stretches, while Indiana’s Nembhard was a plus-15 in a losing effort.
Up next
Dallas begins a three-game road trip Thursday at Minnesota.
