Kyrie Irving scored 24 points as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Indiana Pacers 121-105 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday night, spoiling Tyrese Haliburton’s return to his home court and securing the first win under new head coach Dusty May.
Irving shot 8-for-15 from the field and made five of his 10 three-point attempts as Dallas improved to 1-1. P.J. Washington added 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Max Christie contributed 16 points. The Mavericks overcame the second-half absence of Cooper Flagg, who left with a left shoulder injury.
Flagg, last season’s Rookie of the Year, injured his shoulder after being fouled by Aaron Nesmith on a potential breakaway dunk. Nesmith received a flagrant foul, and officials assessed a double technical following a brief shoving match. Flagg finished with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes, according to the box score.
Dallas had already established control before the injury. The Mavericks opened the game with a 22-6 run and finished the first quarter with a 44-27 lead. They continued to pull away in the second, scoring 15 consecutive points to extend their advantage to 61-31 before adding another 10-0 run later in the period.
The visitors took a commanding 77-43 lead into halftime, leaving Indiana with a significant deficit to overcome. The Pacers responded after the break, outscoring Dallas 33-21 in the third quarter and adding 29 points in the fourth, but they could not get close enough to threaten the result.
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points, while Haliburton finished with 18 points and seven assists in his first home game since the 2025 NBA Finals. Andrew Nembhard added 16 points, and Obi Toppin scored 13 off the bench.
Haliburton received a loud ovation during player introductions, but Indiana’s slow start soon drew boos from the home crowd. The Pacers shot just 7-for-32 from three-point range and committed 19 turnovers, compared with 14 for Dallas.
The Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, while Indiana visits the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
