February 23 - The Mavericks narrowly defeated the Pacers 134-130. Middleton contributed 25 points , 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, delivering a solid performance on both ends of the court; Siakam scored 30 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to lead his team to a comeback victory.

The Pacers started strong, taking a 21-18 lead. However, the Mavericks rallied, with Washington and Marshall scoring consecutive baskets to take the lead. At the end of the first quarter, the Mavericks led 36-33 . In the second quarter, the Pacers relied on Nembhardt to stay close, delivering several accurate assists. The Mavericks, on the other hand, relied on Middleton's crucial mid-range jumpers to stabilize the game. At halftime, the Mavericks maintained their lead at 71-66 .

After switching sides, the Pacers narrowed the gap to 72-73 , but the Mavericks quickly extended their lead to double digits. Siakam scored 11 points in the quarter to help his team close the gap. At the end of the third quarter, the Mavericks led 103-95 . In the final quarter, the Pacers continued to close the gap, with Siakam and Nembuhard scoring consecutively to create suspense. However, in the crucial moments, Middleton and Williams made steady free throws, helping the Mavericks maintain their advantage. Ultimately, the Mavericks narrowly defeated the Pacers 134-130 .

Mavericks player statistics

Middleton 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists; Washington 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists; Marshall 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists; Christie 16 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists; Williams 15 points, 1 rebound, 7 assists; Bagley 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist; Thompson 9 points, 3 rebounds; Gafford 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists; Martin 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist.

Pacers player data

Pascal Siakam 30 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists; Nembuhad 22 points, 1 rebound, 11 assists; Kemba Walker 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists; Brown 15 points, 7 rebounds; Sheppard 13 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists; Jackson 11 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists; Jones 10 points, 3 assists; Huff 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist; Porter 2 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists

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