Flagg's 43 and a 10-1 Offensive-Rebound Edge Carry Mavericks Past Pacers 125-122

Highlights

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Forty-three points from Cooper Flagg. Thirty-five assists from Indiana. And still the number that won this game was 10-1 — Dallas' count in offensive rebounds at American Airlines Center, the figure that explains how the Mavericks walked off 125-122 winners despite holding the lead for just 13:03.

Indiana owned the first half: 31-26 in the opening quarter, 35-30 in the second, a peak lead of 13, 13 straight points at one stretch. The Pacers led for 31:32 in total and moved the ball elegantly — 35 assists to Dallas' 26, with Pascal Siakam delivering 29 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and Ivica Zubac hitting 16 on 71 percent shooting. What they never solved was the glass: one offensive rebound all night.

The second half inverted the evening. Dallas took the third 34-27 behind an 11-point unanswered burst, then closed the fourth 35-29. Total rebounds finished 43-27, defensive boards 33-26. Dallas even committed 15 turnovers to Indiana's 13 and still dictated the final minutes.

The finish came down to two names. Aaron Nesmith — 36 percent on the night — drilled a three to make it 120-119, then another to pull Indiana within one at 123-122. In between, Naji Marshall added one at 121-119 and Cooper Flagg nudged it to 123-119. Kyrie Irving supplied the last points, 124-122 and then 125-122, closing with 35 on 61 percent shooting, a plus-29 and zero rebounds.

Flagg was the engine of the comeback: 43 points at 64 percent from the field, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, a block and a game-best 9.0 rating — even with a minus-8 beside his name.

Indiana passed it prettier. Dallas crashed the glass harder. Only one of those wins a three-point game.