Game Rewind: Pacers 102, Mavericks 89

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Small-ball comes up big again for Pacers

END RESULT

The decision to go back to small ball has come up big for the Pacers.

Once again getting balanced production from the strength of the roster – their perimeter players – the Pacers led most of the way in a 102-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday in Conseco Fieldhouse.

Continuing the recent trend of balanced production and a variety of contributors down the stretch, Brandon Rush scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Pacers. Danny Granger and Darren Collison had 17 apiece and Paul George scored 16 off the bench.

Playing without injured stars Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler, the Mavericks were led by Jason Terry, who scored 18 off the bench.

IMPACT

The Pacers won consecutive games – and scored at least 100 twice in a row – for the first time since November and improved to 16-20 overall, 10-9 at home. They also snapped a five-game losing streak to the Mavericks. Dallas dropped to 26-11 overall, 12-3 on the road but the Mavericks are just 2-6 without Nowitzki.

QUOTEWORTHY

STAT OF THE GAME

The Pacers improved to 10-2 when they score at least 100 points.

HIGHLIGHTS

Though Dallas was missing a lot of offensive punch without Nowitzki and Butler, the Mavs field a stout defensive lineup and that was in evidence early as the Pacers managed just four points and committed four turnovers in the first six minutes. But the switch flipped and Indiana's offense remained on the rest of the night.

After trading baskets most of the first half – the teams were tied nine times in the second quarter alone, including 52-all at the half – the Pacers made the first big move of the game with a 12-4 run in the third quarter that opened a 75-66 lead.

Dallas closed to 77-71 early in the fourth but George hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 83-71. Rush then answered the Mavericks' final two threats. Dallas closed to 87-80 on a Jason Kidd 3-pointer with 7:25 left but Rush came back with consecutive jumpers to push the lead back to 11.

Another Kidd 3-pointer made it 93-87 with 3:43 left but Rush produced a 3-pointer of his own to start a 9-2 finishing kick that put away the Mavs.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Pacers shot just .446 overall and 8-of-24 (.333) from the 3-point line but had timely scoring. Rush was 7-of-16 overall, 2-of-5 from the arc for his 20. Granger scored six of his 17 from the line, adding six assists to bring his two-game total to 13. Collison hit 6-of-9 shots, adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals to his 17. George also was 6-of-9, hitting 4-of-6 from the arc, adding four rebounds and two steals in 18 minutes off the bench. Mike Dunleavy had 11 rebounds and Jeff Foster eight for the Pacers, who outrebounded Dallas 46-41.

Terry shot 9-of-20 for the Mavs, adding five rebounds and three assists to his 18-point night. Kidd was 4-of-7 from the arc and finished with 13 points, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Tyson Chandler scored 13 with nine rebounds. Shawn Marion had 12 with seven rebounds and four assists and DeShawn Stevenson had 10 points. The Mavs shot 41.3 percent overall and were 9-of-22 (.409) from the arc.

NOTEWORTHY

UP NEXT

The Pacers face the Central Division leading Chicago Bulls on Friday at 7 p.m. (Fox Sports Indiana, WIBC 93 FM) in Conseco Fieldhouse. Tickets: Buy Now | Lucas Oil Family Night

--Conrad Brunner, Pacers.com