Game Preview: Pacers vs Mavericks

Last Updated: Dec. 16 at 11:45 AM

In a strange one on Monday night, the Pacers took an early haymaker, but outpunched the Raptors the rest of the night en route to a 16-point victory that saw Indiana trail by as many as 21, and lead by as many as 25. The win was a critical one for the Pacers, not just because it was against one of the Eastern Conference's top teams, but because it helped remove concerns that the defense was sliding.

How does one quell concerns of a struggling defense? a 42-6 first-half run seemed to be a good remedy. The Pacers ended the night having held the Raptors to just 36.7 percent from the field while forcing 18 turnovers.

So now, with a 14-9 record in hand, the Pacers set their sights on a Western Conference force: The Dallas Mavericks.

Before the season began, projections for the Mavs were not optimistic among league prognosticators; and it seemed warranted. Dallas had lost out on DeAndre Jordan during the summer's strangest free agency courtship; they made a splash by signing Wesley Matthews, an excellent player but one returning from an Achilles' tear; they were nearly swept in the first round of the playoffs; and Dirk Nowitzki was a year older.

But now, with a 14-11 record, Dirk and the Mavs are showing that age is but a number. The 37-year-old Nowitzki is leading the club in points with 17.3 per game. Wesley Matthews looks to have made a full return to health. And point guard Deron Williams, signed over the offseason, is having somewhat of a renaissance in Dallas, shooting 37 percent from 3-point land and averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 assists per game. Another key to the Mavs' early success has been the play of veteran Zaza Pachulia, who is averaging a double-double this year with 10.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

The Mavericks have seven players over the age of 30 on their roster, and five of them make up the group's top scorers. Matthews is the only sub-30 player that makes up the team's top six scorers, and he's 29. Safe to say, this team is seasoned.

Indiana, which is 2-1 since its 3-game slide, has been seeing healthy contributions from the not-so-usual suspects in its recent victories.

On Monday, Jordan Hill posted a career-best 20-point, 13-rebound stat line, tormenting the Raptors front line with second-chance points and crafty post moves. Hill and fellow front court mate Lavoy Allen — who are both deployed in the team's "big" lineup — outworked Toronto all night, combining for a ridiculous 23 rebounds.

On Friday, in a double-digit win over the Heat, it was Ian Mahinmi, who posted his Pacers career-high in points with 18, while grabbing 12 rebounds and connected on 7-of-9 shots, many of which were powerful slams coming off the pick-and-roll.

On Wednesday night, the Pacers will put their lineups to the test against a Mavericks squad that seems to have found the fountain of youth somewhere in the greater Dallas metropolitan area.

George Hill

Monta Ellis

Paul George

C.J. Miles

Ian Mahinmi

Deron Williams

Raymond Felton

Wesley Matthews

Dirk Nowitzki

Zaza Pachulia

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - C.J. Miles, C - Ian Mahinmi
Mavericks: PG - Deron Williams, PG - Raymond Felton, SG - Wesley Matthews, PF - Dirk Nowitzki, C - Zaza Pachulia

Pacers: Myles Turner - out (chip fracture, left thumb)

Mavericks: None

March 29, 2015: On one of their Flo-Jo nights, the Pacers knocked off the Mavericks 104-99 during a juncture in the season in which Indiana was scrapping for the playoffs.

C.J. Miles, who hails from the Dallas area, poured in a game-high 28 points for the Pacers, making 9-of-12 shots from the field, and drawing a critical charge against Chandler Parsons in the game's waning moments.

It was such a tight contest from start to finish that neither team led by double-digits at any point of the game.

"This is do or die for us," George Hill said. "Everyone's got to put on their hard hats and go out there and continue to fight to the end of the game. Every guy in this locker room made a great effort to give us a win tonight."

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Good seats still remain for Wednesday's game against Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks. And, thanks to FOX Sports Indiana, any tickets purchased online between now and the end of December will include zero fees. Find Tickets »

Retro Slouch Hat - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.