by INDIANAPOLIS — In just his second game back from a torn ACL, Kyrie Irving poured in 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting (5-of-10 from three) to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the Indiana Pacers 121-105 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He added 3 assists, 1 steal and a block in just under 25 minutes, finishing a game-high +8.
Dallas ended this one early. The Mavericks shot 70 percent in the first quarter and raced to a 44-27 lead, then piled on a 33-16 second quarter to take a 77-43 lead into the break. Indiana never led, and the game never got closer than 13 in the second half despite a 33-21 Pacers third quarter.
Irving’s encore performance came two nights after his return at Houston, and he looks fully like himself: shifty, efficient, and the Mavericks’ offensive engine when rookie Cooper Flagg left the game with a shoulder injury.
Flagg was ascending — 14 points, 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 threes — before exiting. For Indiana, Pascal Siakam led with 23, but the Pacers couldn’t overcome the early onslaught on Tyrese Haliburton’s home opener.
