Cooper Flagg Scores 43 as Mavericks Rally Past Pacers 125-122 in Dallas

Cooper Flagg scored 43 points on Monday night as the Dallas Mavericks erased a 13-point deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122 at American Airlines Center. The rookie forward shot 16 of 25 from the field, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out six assists in the finest scoring night of his young NBA career, while Kyrie Irving added 35 points on 7-of-10 shooting from three-point range as the pair combined for 78 points in a thrilling home win.

Indiana, led by Pascal Siakam's 29 points, controlled long stretches of the game and built a lead as large as 13 points. But Dallas steadily clawed its way back, with Flagg and Irving taking over in the second half, and the Mavericks held on in a tense finish to improve to 7-4 on the season. The Pacers fell to 3-8 with their second straight loss.

It was a statement night for the 19-year-old Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, who has quickly become the centrepiece of a Dallas team that believes it can contend in the Western Conference. His 43 points came on efficient shooting, and his all-round line of 10 rebounds and six assists underlined why the Mavericks built their offence around him so early in his career.

Key Points

• Cooper Flagg scored 43 points on 16-of-25 shooting, with 10 rebounds and six assists, for the Dallas Mavericks.
• Kyrie Irving added 35 points, including 7 of 10 from three-point range, as the star pair combined for 78 points.
• Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 29 points, 26 of them in the first half, while Aaron Nesmith scored 18 and Ivica Zubac added 16.
• The Mavericks erased a 13-point Pacers lead to win 125-122 at American Airlines Center on Monday, November 9, 2026.
• Dallas improved to 7-4 on the season, while Indiana fell to 3-8 with its second consecutive defeat.

What Happened

The Pacers came out firing in Dallas and built a 13-point advantage, with Siakam doing most of the early damage. The veteran forward scored 26 of his 29 points before half-time, attacking the rim and punishing Dallas from mid-range, and the visitors looked in control as they carried their lead into the second half. Nesmith chipped in 18 points and Zubac added 16 as Indiana's supporting cast kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Dallas, though, never let the game slip away. Flagg began to impose himself on both ends of the floor, scoring in transition, finishing through contact and finding teammates when Indiana sent extra defenders his way. Irving, meanwhile, caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting seven of his 10 three-point attempts and keeping the Mavericks within reach every time the Pacers threatened to pull away again.

The comeback gathered pace as the game wore on. Flagg's scoring, combined with Irving's shot-making, turned a 13-point deficit into a one-possession game and then into a Dallas lead. The final minutes were tense, with both teams trading baskets, but the Mavericks made the plays that mattered down the stretch and closed out a 125-122 win in front of their home crowd at American Airlines Center.

For Indiana, it was a frustrating end to a game they had controlled for long periods. Siakam's first-half explosion had given them the platform, but they could not find a second scorer to match Flagg and Irving when the game tightened, and their lead disappeared as Dallas raised its intensity on both ends.

Background and Context

Flagg arrived in Dallas as one of the most hyped rookies in recent NBA history, the top pick in the draft and the player the Mavericks are building their future around. The early returns have been hugely encouraging. Just over a week ago, on October 30, Flagg scored 33 points against the Houston Rockets in an NBA Cup group-play opener, combining with Irving for 68 points in a 116-111 win at the same arena. Monday's 43-point night was the next step up.

The Mavericks' start to the season has matched that optimism. At 7-4, Dallas sits among the early pace-setters in the West, and the partnership between Flagg and Irving is already one of the league's most productive duos. Irving's experience and shooting have given Flagg room to grow into a leading role far sooner than most rookies manage, and the two have now combined for 78 points in a single game.

Indiana, by contrast, is searching for answers. The Pacers fell to 3-8 with the defeat, their second in a row, and the loss will sting because they had the game in their hands. Siakam has been their most reliable scorer, but the supporting cast has struggled to produce consistently, and Monday's collapse from 13 points up will raise questions about the team's ability to close out games on the road.

The two teams have taken very different paths into this season. Dallas retooled around its young star and a veteran guard, while Indiana has leaned on Siakam and a group of role players. Monday's result underlined the gap in star power: when the game was on the line, the Mavericks had two players capable of taking it over, and the Pacers had one.

Cooper Flagg's 43-Point Night Puts the NBA on Notice

Forty-three points is a landmark for any player, let alone a rookie in the opening weeks of his first NBA season. Flagg reached it on 16-of-25 shooting, an efficient 64 per cent from the field, and he did it while also pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists. That is not just a scoring night; it is a complete performance, the kind that turns heads around the league.

What stood out was the variety of Flagg's scoring. He attacked the basket, finished in transition, hit jump shots and drew fouls, and he did it against a Pacers defence that knew exactly who it had to stop. Indiana sent help whenever he touched the ball, and Flagg still found ways to score, often by moving without the ball or by making the right pass and then cutting to the rim.

His partnership with Irving was the other story of the night. Irving's 35 points on 7-of-10 three-point shooting gave Dallas a second elite scorer, and the two combined for 78 of the Mavericks' 125 points. When one of them rested, the other kept the offence moving, and when they shared the floor, Indiana simply could not guard both at once.

For a rookie, nights like this change the conversation. Flagg is no longer just a promising young player on a team with playoff ambitions; he is a player opponents must plan for as a primary threat. The 43-point game is the clearest evidence yet that Dallas has found its franchise player, and that the Mavericks' rebuild around him is ahead of schedule.

Reactions

The American Airlines Center crowd rose to Flagg again and again as the rookie's scoring spree carried Dallas back into the game, and the noise grew louder with every basket in the closing minutes. Home wins like this one have become a feature of the Mavericks' early season, and the atmosphere reflected a fan base that believes this team is building towards something special.

For Indiana, the mood was very different. A 13-point lead on the road against one of the West's in-form teams is a position every visiting side wants, and letting it slip away will be a source of frustration in the Pacers' locker room. Siakam's first-half performance deserved a better result, and the Pacers will know they let a winnable game get away.

Around the league, the performance will have been noted. Rookies who score 43 points in November do not come along often, and Flagg's night adds to a growing body of work that has made him one of the most talked-about young players in the NBA. The Mavericks, meanwhile, will take the win and the confidence that comes with it as they continue a strong start to the season.

Why It Matters

Dallas moving to 7-4 matters because the Western Conference is unforgiving, and every home win against a conference opponent helps build the cushion a team needs for the long season ahead. The Mavericks are not just winning; they are winning with their rookie leading the way, which suggests their ceiling is higher than many expected before the season began.

The Flagg-Irving partnership matters too. Championship-contending teams need two players who can take over a game, and on Monday Dallas had exactly that. Irving's shooting stretches defences, Flagg's all-round game fills every gap, and together they give the Mavericks an offence that can score against anyone.

For Indiana, the loss matters because 3-8 is a hole that gets harder to climb out of with every defeat. The Pacers have talent, and Siakam's scoring shows they can compete with good teams, but they need to learn how to protect a lead on the road. Until they do, nights like Monday will keep happening, and their season will keep slipping away.

What Happens Next

Dallas will look to build on the win and keep its strong start going, with Flagg's confidence soaring after the best scoring night of his young career. The Mavericks' next games offer a chance to consolidate their position among the West's early leaders, and the form of their star duo will be the key to how far they can go.

Indiana, meanwhile, needs a response. Two straight losses and a 3-8 record demand a reset, and the Pacers will want to find a way to support Siakam with more consistent scoring from the rest of the roster. Their next outing is a chance to stop the slide before it becomes a defining feature of their season.

For Flagg, the challenge now is to back up a 43-point night with more of the same. Opponents will game-plan for him harder than ever, and the way he handles that attention over the coming weeks will say a lot about how quickly he can become one of the league's elite players.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points did Cooper Flagg score against the Pacers?
Cooper Flagg scored 43 points on 16-of-25 shooting, along with 10 rebounds and six assists, in the Mavericks' 125-122 win over Indiana.

What was the final score between the Mavericks and the Pacers?
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Indiana Pacers 125-122 at American Airlines Center on Monday, November 9, 2026, after erasing a 13-point deficit.

How many points did Kyrie Irving score?
Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, shooting 7 of 10 from three-point range, as he and Flagg combined for 78 points for Dallas.

Who led the Pacers in scoring?
Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 29 points, 26 of them in the first half. Aaron Nesmith added 18 points and Ivica Zubac scored 16.

What are the Mavericks' and Pacers' records now?
Dallas improved to 7-4 with the win, while Indiana fell to 3-8 with its second straight loss.

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