Mavericks' late collapse costs them against Pacers in 135-131 loss

The Dallas Mavericks suffered a heartbreaking 135-131 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night in Indianapolis, a defeat that left fans stunned considering they had an 11-point lead with about five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and a seven-point advantage with just 1:07 left in the game. The collapse came as a result of a series of critical mistakes in the final moments, including turnovers, missed free throws, and poor execution on both ends of the court. 

With under a minute to go, the Mavericks committed three turnovers, one of which proved to be the most costly. Max Christie’s turnover set up Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard for a wide-open three-pointer with just 14.7 seconds left, giving Indiana a 131-130 lead. On the very next possession, Jaden Hardy committed an offensive foul on the inbound pass, further escalating the Mavericks' struggles. From there, it turned into a free throw shooting contest, where the Mavericks failed to get a shot attempt to either tie or regain the lead, sealing their fate with no opportunity for a comeback.

Despite the frustrating loss, the Mavericks showed resilience throughout the game. Missing key players, including sharpshooter Klay Thompson, Dallas played with only eight players, yet managed to battle back after trailing by 16 points early in the second quarter. The team fought hard to dominate the second half, with their 11-point lead in the fourth quarter coming from relentless attacking play. The Mavericks repeatedly exploited the Pacers’ weak defense, driving hard to the basket and scoring at will. 

This game, while disappointing due to the collapse in the final moments, demonstrated the heart and grit of the Mavericks, even in the face of adversity. The absence of Thompson and a shorthanded roster only seemed to fuel their determination to claw back into the game. However, the inability to close out the game due to turnovers and missed free throws ultimately cost them the win. The loss was a tough blow to Dallas, especially considering how well they had battled to put themselves in a winning position late in the game.