Cooper Flagg saved his biggest answers for the moments when Dallas needed them most. The young Mavericks forward poured in 43 points, including two jumpers in the final 1:02, as Dallas erased an early 10-point hole and held off Indiana 125-122 on Monday. Dallas entered at 6-4, trying to keep building around its rising star, while the 3-7 Pacers arrived looking to turn their sharp passing into a needed road win.

Indiana’s offense hummed early. Ivica Zubac opened the scoring with two free throws, then Aaron Nesmith buried a three-pointer after Flagg blocked Zubac at the rim. That sequence showed both teams’ plans: Indiana moved the ball quickly, while Flagg tried to disrupt everything. Zubac dunked twice, Pascal Siakam hit a three, and the Pacers built a 14-10 lead. Dallas answered with Flagg’s three-pointer and strong work inside, but Indiana’s reserve group pushed the lead to 31-26 after one quarter.

The Pacers kept flying in the second quarter. T.J. McConnell and a Pacers guard created easy baskets, while Obi Toppin scored twice around the rim. Yet Kyrie Irving sparked Dallas with a three, a long runner, and a pullup jumper to put the Mavericks ahead 43-39. Siakam then took over. He hit three three-pointers in the quarter, including a running pullup that made it 58-48, and Indiana carried a 66-56 lead into halftime. Siakam finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists without a turnover, leading a Pacers attack that produced 35 assists.

Dallas began its climb in the third. Flagg scored three times in the opening minutes, and Irving’s three-pointer cut the gap to six. When P.J. Washington drilled a three and Irving drove for a layup, the score was tied 84-84. Indiana still led 93-90 entering the fourth, but the Mavericks had changed the game with tougher defense and extra work on the glass. Dallas finished with 43 rebounds, while Indiana had 27.

Flagg tied it at 93 with a three-pointer, and Irving soon answered a Siakam basket with a three of his own for a 98-97 Dallas lead. Irving scored 35 points and made seven three-pointers, giving Flagg room to attack. Flagg then fed Daniel Gafford for a layup and a free throw, stretching the lead to 106-99. Washington blocked Nembhard at the rim during that push, a huge stop against Indiana’s clever ball movement.

The Pacers refused to fade. Nesmith hit a three with 20.6 seconds left to pull Indiana within 123-122. Irving calmly made two free throws, and a Dallas forward stole Nembhard’s final pass to finish it. Flagg’s 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and late scoring powered Dallas to 7-4 before its next game against Minnesota. Indiana fell to 3-8, but its passing and late fight can travel with it to Washington. For Dallas, this was another loud chapter in Flagg’s rise from promising young player to closer when the game is on the line.

Cooper Flagg’s 43-Point Night Carries Dallas Past Indiana