Dallas won 121-105 in Indiana for its first win of the season and is now 1-1. P.J. Washington led everybody with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and a bench-heavy group turned a one-point first quarter into a 14-point cushion.
The Bench Broke It Open
Indiana called timeout at 16-15 midway through the first, and it was still a three-point game at 20-17 with 4:55 left in the quarter. Then Dallas ripped off 10 straight, capped by a Kyrie Irving driving layup at 3:27 for a 30-17 lead. Marcus Sasser buried a three off an Irving feed to make it 33-19, the biggest margin of the night's opening stretch at 14. Indiana never led in the first quarter and only got even three times. The damage came from the second unit: Sasser and Zaccharie Risacher each went +13 in four minutes, and Naji Marshall was +10 with a steal. Cooper Flagg ran with Sasser, Marshall, Risacher and Morez Johnson Jr. late in the quarter. On the other side, Ivica Zubac was -11 and Tyrese Haliburton -9.
Grades: Washington, Flagg, Sasser
Washington gets an A. His 20 points and 13 rebounds led both teams, and that kind of work on the glass is what a frontcourt missing two bigs needs from him. Haliburton led Indiana with 18 points and 7 assists, and it wasn't close to enough. Flagg gets a B-plus for his first-quarter efficiency: 2-for-2 from the field, 3 assists, a steal, a block, no turnovers and +9 in eight minutes. That grade comes with a worry, since he is now day-to-day with a left shoulder issue. Sasser gets a B. Two threes in four minutes is exactly the spark Dallas needs behind Irving, but a bad pass turned into a Andrew Nembhard steal and a shooting foul, and Dallas had to call timeout at 33-19. The Smoking Cuban argued after the opener that Sasser should be the backup point guard, and this night helped that case.
What It Means Tonight
The win moves Dallas to eighth in the West at 1-1, a half game behind the 1-0 Grizzlies for sixth and a half game clear of 11th. There is no time to enjoy it. San Antonio comes to Dallas a day later, 0-1 this season but 62-20 last season, with Victor Wembanyama coming off 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds a game last year. The Spurs will be without Tobias Harris and Jayden Quaintance. Dallas has more open questions. Flagg is day-to-day, and Jett Howard, Caleb Martin, Tarik Biberovic and Aldama all carry an estimated return of October 24. Lively's estimate is October 26, the night Dallas visits Miami.
Who led the Mavericks in the win over the Pacers?
P.J. Washington led Dallas with 20 points and 13 rebounds in the 121-105 win. Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 18 points and 7 assists.
Will Cooper Flagg play against the Spurs?
Flagg is listed day-to-day with a left shoulder issue, and his estimated return is October 24, the day of the Spurs game. His status for that game is not confirmed.
