Mavericks end 4-game skid vs. Pacers to stay in playoff hunt
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Luka Doncic started Monday hopeful he would play at Indiana.
A few hours later, NBA officials announced they had rescinded the All-Star’s most recent technical foul and the subsequent one-game suspension. Doncic responded to that news with the kind of dazzling performance the Dallas Mavericks desperately needed for their final playoff push.
He finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists, helping the Mavericks snap a four-game losing streak with a dominant 127-104 victory over the short-handed Indiana Pacers.
“That's what he does,” coach Jason Kidd said. “He's one of the best players in the league at finding guys and then he's able to catch and shoot - not just once but multiple times.”
The victory keeps Dallas within striking distance of the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder in the race for the final two play-in spots in the Western Conference.
Kyrie Irving added 16 points and six assists for Dallas.
Indiana was led by Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 22 points, and Andrew Nembhard, who had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists on a night the Pacers were missing three starters and a key backup.
Indiana has lost three straight and six of eight as they move closer to locking up a lottery pick. And they had no chance with Doncic working his magic.
“It's tough,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Luka makes a couple of passes that were unbelievable, that only one player in the world can make.”
Dallas took control after a back-and-forth first quarter by starting the second on a 14-2 run to make it 43-29. The Mavericks led 59-47 at the half, extended the advantage to 77-56 midway through the third quarter and just kept pulling away.
Doncic had picked up his 16th technical that was rescinded on Sunday in the team's second loss to Charlotte. The technical came with 7:51 remaining in the third quarter of a 110-104 loss when Doncic argued a no-call after missing a shot on a drive to the basket.
Crew chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report after the game that Doncic used “a profanity directed at the officials in protest to a no-call that was correctly judged in postgame video review.”
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Rookie Jaden Hardy had 20 points as six players scored in double figures. ... Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 13 points and Reggie Bullock had 11 and JaVale McGee added 10. ... The Mavericks completed the season series tied at 1-1 for the fifth consecutive season. They lost 124-122 on their home court in February.
Pacers: Jordan Nwora had 13 points and nine rebounds, while Isaiah Jackson had 12 rebounds. ... T.J. McConnell finished with 15 points, five rebounds and seven assists. ... When the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched a playoff spot Sunday, the Pacers secured the Cavs' first-round pick in this year's draft courtesy of last season's deal for Caris LeVert.
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Carlisle, Doncic's former coach in Dallas, said he wasn't surprised by the league's decision.
In fact, Carlisle thinks the league should rescind more technical calls. Perhaps that's because he already has a league-leading 11 among coaches this season.
“I don't know how many I have, I just know I've surpassed the five the team can pay for," he said. “It's kind of, you know, they're not cheap so if you're going to get them, you better get your money's worth.”
HIELD HELD OUT
Carlisle also said Buddy Hield missed his first game of the season with a non-COVID-19 illness.
It wasn't by choice. Team doctors told Carlisle that Hield could not play earlier Monday and the Pacers' top 3-point shooter wasn't even on the bench. Hield's 271 3-pointers this season rank second in the league, two behind Klay Thompson.
Indiana also played without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton and starting center Myles Turner, who were listed as injury management, and backup guard Chris Duarte (sore left ankle).
UP NEXT
Mavericks: Make their third stop on a five-game trip Wednesday at Philadelphia.
Pacers: Host Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee on Wednesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Dwight Powell vs. Jalen Smith (Jordan Nwora gains possession) | ||
| 11:44 | | Jalen Smith misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | ||
| 11:42 |  | Dwight Powell defensive rebound | ||
| 11:23 | | +3 | Reggie Bullock makes three point jump shot (Tim Hardaway Jr. assists) | 3-0 |
| 11:07 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point pullup jump shot | 3-2 |
| 10:48 | | Reggie Bullock misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:44 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 10:38 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point driving floating jump shot | 3-4 |
| 10:20 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:17 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 10:09 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving layup | 3-6 |
| 9:51 | | Luka Doncic misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 9:48 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 9:42 | | Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:39 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 9:32 | | Bennedict Mathurin shooting foul (Tim Hardaway Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 9:32 | | +1 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 4-6 |
| 9:32 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:32 | | +1 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-6 |
| 9:17 | | Andrew Nembhard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:15 | | Mavericks defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | +2 | Dwight Powell makes two point driving dunk (Kyrie Irving assists) | 7-6 |
| 8:53 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 7-8 |
| 8:40 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses two point pullup bank jump shot | ||
| 8:37 | | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:31 | | Luka Doncic defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Luka Doncic misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:13 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | +3 | Aaron Nesmith makes three point running jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 7-11 |
| 7:54 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 9-11 |
| 7:54 | | Andrew Nembhard shooting foul (Kyrie Irving draws the foul) | ||
| 7:54 | | +1 | Kyrie Irving makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-11 |
| 7:40 | | Jordan Nwora misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 7:39 | | Reggie Bullock personal foul (Loose ball) (Jalen Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 7:33 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. blocks Jalen Smith's two point cutting layup | ||
| 7:33 | | Mavericks defensive rebound | ||
| 7:10 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:07 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 7:03 | | Kyrie Irving blocks Aaron Nesmith's two point running layup | ||
| 7:02 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point stepback jump shot | 10-13 |
| 6:27 | | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:25 | | Dwight Powell offensive rebound | ||
| 6:18 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving layup | 12-13 |
| 6:12 | | Dwight Powell personal foul (Andrew Nembhard draws the foul) | ||
| 6:01 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point driving dunk (Aaron Nesmith assists) | 12-15 |
| 5:49 | | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes two point jump shot (Christian Wood assists) | 14-15 |
| 5:30 | | Tim Hardaway Jr. shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | ||
| 5:30 | | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-16 |
| 5:30 | | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-17 |
| 5:22 | | Christian Wood misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:19 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 5:12 | | Jordan Nwora misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:09 | | Isaiah Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:08 | | Isaiah Jackson misses two point putback layup | ||
| 5:05 | | Isaiah Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:05 | | Isaiah Jackson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 5:05 | | Jordan Nwora offensive rebound | ||
| 5:02 | | Jordan Nwora misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 5:02 | | Isaiah Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 5:00 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point putback layup | 14-19 |
| 5:00 | | Mavericks 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:47 | | Christian Wood misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:42 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 4:27 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:25 | | Jaden Hardy defensive rebound | ||
| 4:20 | | Isaiah Jackson personal foul (Luka Doncic draws the foul) | ||
| 4:14 | | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. makes three point jump shot (Jaden Hardy assists) | 17-19 |
| 3:50 | | Jordan Nwora misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:48 | | Christian Wood defensive rebound | ||
| 3:37 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point stepback jump shot | 19-19 |
| 3:19 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point driving floating jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 19-21 |
| 3:07 | | Christian Wood misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:04 | | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point running layup | ||
| 2:57 | | Josh Green defensive rebound | ||
| 2:50 | | Luka Doncic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:49 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 2:49 | | Andrew Nembhard personal foul (Loose ball) (Christian Wood draws the foul) | ||
| 2:40 | | Frank Ntilikina misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:38 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:26 | | Christian Wood blocks Aaron Nesmith's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:23 | | Kyrie Irving defensive rebound | ||
| 2:17 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point driving floating jump shot (Frank Ntilikina assists) | 21-21 |
| 2:05 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (lost ball) (Jaden Hardy steals) | ||
| 2:01 | | +2 | Jaden Hardy makes two point running layup | 23-21 |
| 2:00 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:49 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot (Oshae Brissett assists) | 23-23 |
| 1:29 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point stepback jump shot | 25-23 |
| 1:09 | | Josh Green personal foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | ||
| 0:59 | | Isaiah Jackson misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 0:58 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:55 | | +2 | Oshae Brissett makes two point layup | 25-25 |
| 0:41 | | +2 | Jaden Hardy makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-25 |
| 0:28 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving finger roll layup | 27-27 |
| 0:15 | | +2 | Kyrie Irving makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 29-27 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:47 | | Isaiah Jackson blocks Kyrie Irving's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 11:44 | | George Hill defensive rebound | ||
| 11:35 | | Isaiah Jackson turnover (traveling) | ||
| 11:21 | | +3 | Jaden Hardy makes three point stepback jump shot | 32-27 |
| 11:05 | | Aaron Nesmith offensive foul (Frank Ntilikina draws the foul) | ||
| 11:05 | | Aaron Nesmith turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:44 | | +2 | JaVale McGee makes two point alley-oop layup (Josh Green assists) | 34-27 |
| 10:44 | | George Hill shooting foul (JaVale McGee draws the foul) | ||
| 10:44 | | JaVale McGee misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 10:42 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | Oshae Brissett misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:30 | | Isaiah Jackson offensive rebound | ||
| 10:30 | | +2 | Isaiah Jackson makes two point putback layup | 34-29 |
| 10:30 | | JaVale McGee defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 10:15 | | Frank Ntilikina misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Isaiah Jackson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:53 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:50 | | Jaden Hardy defensive rebound | ||
| 9:47 | | +3 | Kyrie Irving makes three point running jump shot (Jaden Hardy assists) | 37-29 |
| 9:29 | | Aaron Nesmith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:26 | | Frank Ntilikina defensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (JaVale McGee draws the foul) | ||
| 9:19 | | +1 | JaVale McGee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-29 |
| 9:19 | | +1 | JaVale McGee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-29 |
| 9:02 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (bad pass) (Frank Ntilikina steals) | ||
| 8:58 | | +2 | Josh Green makes two point running dunk (Kyrie Irving assists) | 41-29 |
| 8:57 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:33 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (lost ball) (Kyrie Irving steals) | ||
| 8:28 | | +2 | Jaden Hardy makes two point running dunk | 43-29 |
| 8:11 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point driving floating jump shot | 43-31 |
| 7:57 | | Jaden Hardy misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:54 | | Mavericks offensive rebound | ||
| 7:54 | | Isaiah Jackson personal foul (Loose ball) (JaVale McGee draws the foul) | ||
| 7:48 | | Jaden Hardy misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:44 | | Kyrie Irving offensive rebound | ||
| 7:43 | | +3 | Jaden Hardy makes three point jump shot (Kyrie Irving assists) | 46-31 |
| 7:26 | | Jalen Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:21 | | JaVale McGee defensive rebound | ||
| 7:02 | | Jaden Hardy misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:58 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | Kyrie Irving shooting foul (Jordan Nwora draws the foul) | ||
| 6:50 | | Jordan Nwora misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:50 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 6:50 | | +1 | Jordan Nwora makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-32 |
| 6:36 | | Kyrie Irving misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:32 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | JaVale McGee shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | ||
| 6:20 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 6:20 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-33 |
| 6:02 | | Kyrie Irving misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:59 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 5:49 | | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point turnaround jump shot | 46-35 |
| 5:31 | | JaVale McGee offensive foul (Aaron Nesmith draws the foul) | ||
| 5:31 | | JaVale McGee turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:21 | | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:18 | | Mavericks defensive rebound | ||
| 5:04 | | Markieff Morris misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:01 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 4:54 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point layup (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 46-37 |
| 4:34 | | +2 | Luka Doncic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 48-37 |
| 4:20 | | Markieff Morris personal foul (Jalen Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 4:13 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Reggie Bullock defensive rebound | ||
| 3:59 | | +3 | Luka Doncic makes three point turnaround jump shot | 51-37 |
| 3:45 | | Andrew Nembhard misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:44 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | Markieff Morris personal foul (Loose ball) (Jalen Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 3:36 | | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (bad pass) (Kyrie Irving steals) | ||
| 3:24 | | Reggie Bullock misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:21 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 3:17 | | Andrew Nembhard misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:13 | | Jordan Nwora offensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | Jordan Nwora misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:09 | | Reggie Bullock defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Luka Doncic misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:59 | | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point running layup | 51-39 |
| 2:55 | | Mavericks 60 second timeout | ||