Sabonis has a solid double-double as Pacers beat reeling Mavericks with Luka in front / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX Credit USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX

Caris LeVert recorded 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists to help the Indiana Pacers (12-16) notch a 106-93 (22-26, 34-28, 26-26, 24-13) victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks (12-13) on Friday night.

Player of the Game EFF 32 Domantas Sabonis Points 24 Accuracy 9-13 Rebounds 10 Assists 7

Domantas Sabonis added 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Pacers won a third straight game for the first time this season. Myles Turner contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds and Malcolm Brogdon had 12 points and eight assists for Indiana.

Luka Doncic registered 27 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists for the Mavericks, who have lost nine of their past 12 games. Kristaps Porzingis tallied 22 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 15, and Jalen Brunson had 14 points and seven rebounds.

The Pacers were without coach Rick Carlisle due to a positive COVID-19 test. The situation prevented Carlisle from facing the Mavericks, the team he coached for the past 13 seasons and guided to the 2011 NBA title.

Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties for Indiana, which outscored the Mavericks 24-13 in the final quarter.

The Pacers shot 47.1 percent from the field, including 13 of 36 from the 3-point range.

Dallas made 46.4 percent of its shots but was just 4 of 29 from behind the arc.

Brogdon scored four straight points and LeVert followed with four of his own as Indiana rattled off eight in a row for a 98-89 lead with 3:20 remaining.

Porzingis made two straight baskets to move Dallas within five before Brogdon and LeVert buried 3-pointers to give the Pacers a 104-93 advantage with 1:41 left. Sabonis made two free throws with 57.7 seconds left as Indiana closed the game out strong.

Indiana led 56-54 at the break after Turner capped a 12-point first half with a 3-pointer with 6.5 seconds left. The Pacers trailed 30-22 early in the second quarter before ripping off a 22-6 surge to take an eight-point advantage with 6:18 remaining.

The Mavericks held an 80-75 lead after Brunson's basket with 1:15 left in the third quarter. Indiana rattled off the final seven points of the quarter, topped by LeVert's 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left to take an 82-80 edge into the final stanza.

The Pacers continued their surge by scoring the first five points of the fourth quarter. Dallas responded with seven straight with Doncic's layup tying it at 87 with 8:40 left.

Pacers: Caris LeVert 26 (7/16 2PT, 4/7 3PT, REB, 5 AST), Domantas Sabonis 24 (8/12 2PT, 5/6 FT, 10 REB, 7 AST), Myles Turner 17 (3/7 3PT, 10 REB), Malcolm Brogdon 12 (2/9 3PT, 8 AST).

Mavericks: Luka Doncic 27 (10/17 2PT, 1/8 3PT, 9 REB, 9 AST), Kristaps Porzingis 22 (7/11 2PT., 2/6 3PT), Tim Hardaway 15 (6/6 2PT, 1/9 3PT, 3 STL), Jalen Brunson 14 (7/11 2PT, 7 REB).

Full game highlights

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