The Pacers rematch arrives one night after Dallas’s blowout

What changed

Dallas hosts Indiana Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, one night after beating Brooklyn. The Mavericks enter 6-4; the Pacers are 3-7 and closing a road trip after a 114-102 loss to Denver in Mexico City.

The first meeting was a 121-105 Dallas win on October 23. Indiana scored only 43 points in the first half while the Mavericks put up 44 in the first quarter alone. Pascal Siakam comes into the rematch after scoring 23 against Denver, and Ivica Zubac had 10 points and 12 rebounds in that loss.

T.J. McConnell made his season debut Saturday after a hamstring injury, playing nine minutes. Indiana’s official preview lists Tyrese Haliburton, Johnny Furphy and Ben Sheppard out; McConnell is questionable on the Pacers’ current player update.

Interpretation: Sunday’s early control matters only if Dallas carries the habits forward. The starters were spared a heavy fourth-quarter load against Brooklyn, but Indiana’s incentive is obvious after the first meeting. Watch whether Dallas establishes the paint and pace before tired legs can turn the rematch into a late-possession game.