Mavericks Beat Pacers 121-105 as Flagg Leaves With Shoulder Injury

Dallas beat Indiana 121 to 105 on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in the Pacers home opener. The Mavericks built a huge first half lead and held it. The win came at a cost. Cooper Flagg left late in the second quarter with left shoulder soreness and did not return. Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 24 points before he fouled out late in the game.

Dallas set the tone at once. The Mavericks outscored Indiana 44 to 27 in the first quarter and shot about 70 percent in that quarter. They won the second quarter 33 to 16 and led 77 to 43 at halftime. Dallas led by more than 30 points in the first half. Indiana played better after halftime, but the game had been decided in the first 24 minutes.

Flagg leaves in the second quarter

Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year and the 2025 number one pick, had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in 17 minutes. Late in the second quarter, Aaron Nesmith committed a flagrant 1 foul on Flagg on a dunk attempt, with 59.7 seconds left in the half. Flagg left with left shoulder soreness and did not return. Naji Marshall shoved Nesmith after the play, and both players received technical fouls.

The Mavericks did not learn the full extent of the injury during the game. What they know is simple. Their young star played well in a short stint, took a hard foul, and could not finish the night. Dallas now waits on his status. Flagg had looked sharp before the foul, filling the stat sheet in less than half a game.

Dallas scoring carries the night

Irving scored a game high 24 points and fouled out with 4 minutes and 23 seconds left. By then Dallas had the win in hand. P.J. Washington scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Max Christie scored 16 points. Naji Marshall scored 15 points. Zaccharie Risacher scored 11 points. Dallas slowed in the third quarter, scoring 21 points to Indiana 33, then closed with 23 points in the fourth.

Indiana outscored Dallas 33 to 21 in the third quarter and 29 to 23 in the fourth. The Pacers cut into the lead but never made it close. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 23 points. Tyrese Haliburton scored 18 points in his first home game in 490 days, after he tore his right Achilles in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Andrew Nembhard scored 16 points. Obi Toppin scored 13 points. Ivica Zubac grabbed 11 rebounds.

What comes next

Both teams are now 1 and 1. Dallas hosts San Antonio on October 24. Indiana plays at Brooklyn on October 25. For Dallas, the table matters less than the medical update. A short absence for Flagg is a scare. A longer one changes the rotation and the early season plan. For Indiana, the home opener showed fight in the second half, but a 34 point halftime deficit at home is the part the Pacers must fix first.