Pascal Siakam scored 29 points, and Bennedict Mathurin added 23, including 16 in the fourth quarter, as the Indiana Pacers (39-29) erased an 11-point deficit in the final minutes to defeat the Dallas Mavericks (33-37) 135-131 on Wednesday night.
Indiana secured the win after Siakam’s steal led to Andrew Nembhard’s go-ahead three-pointer with 14.7 seconds left. The Pacers sealed the game at the free-throw line, securing their fourth win in five games to stay ahead of Milwaukee for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Nembhard finished with 22 points and eight assists, stepping up in the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, who missed the game with a back injury. Mathurin also contributed seven rebounds, helping the Pacers outscore Dallas 45-40 in the fourth quarter.
P.J. Washington Jr. led the Mavericks with 26 points, while Jaden Hardy added 24. Kai Jones recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Dallas had six players in double figures but couldn’t hold onto their late lead, suffering their ninth loss in 10 games.
The Mavericks played without Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. Despite the shorthanded roster, Jason Kidd’s squad competed until the final minutes before running out of steam.
Indiana had a 15-3 edge in fast-break points and shot 45.7% from beyond the arc. The Pacers will look to build on this momentum as they continue their push for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
