Mavericks look to bounce back as Pacers stroll into town

RAYMOND FELTON IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HIS MAVERICK REGULAR SEASON DEBUT VS INDIANA AFTER HIS FOUR-GAME SUSPENSION CONCLUDED.

Preview

DALLAS – Coming off their first loss in seven games, the Dallas Mavericks return home looking to get back into the win column as the Indiana Pacers stroll into the American Airlines Center Monday night, starting at 7:30 on Fox Sports Southwest.

Dallas fell behind 73-55 in the third quarter in Houston on Saturday, but went on a 31-8 run to take a five-point lead with 3:15 to play.

The Rockets, however, finished on a 14-6 run as Houston snapped Dallas’ six-game win streak, 95-92.

Monta Ellis scored a team-high 17 points while Tyson Chandler recorded 13 points and 13 boards. Chandler Parsons finished with eight points and eight rebounds on 3 for 9 shooting in his much anticipated return to Houston.

Ellis, Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki struggled from the field, going a combine 14 for 48 (29 percent) while the Mavericks made just six threes in 35 attempts (17 percent).

Brandan Wright continued his hot start off the bench with 14 points on 6 for 7 shooting, with 11 rebounds and three blocks. He continues to lead the league in field goal percentage, sitting at a remarkable 78.5 percent.

The Mavericks (10-4) will begin a short two-game homestand against the Pacers while hosting the New York Knicks Wednesday night.

Indiana (5-8) is fighting through a bunch of injuries as the Pacers snapped their modest two-game winning streak with a 23-point home loss to the Phoenix Suns. The Pacers had won four of five, with their lone loss to the Denver Nuggets (108-87).

Roy Hibbert tries to do all he can to keep the Pacers in the playoff hunt by the time most of the remaining starters return from injury.

Hibbert is the only starter from a year ago that has played this season. Indiana is without George Hill, David West and Paul George (injuries) while Lance Stephenson went to Charlotte in the offseason.

KEY MATCH UP

Roy Hibbert vs Tyson Chandler

It’s becoming a recurring theme to pick the center spot, but with so many different faces in the Pacers starting rotation, I think it was obvious to go to the big guys. Roy Hibbert is questionable with an ankle injury after playing just seven minutes in a loss to Phoenix. But if he does play, the 7-foot-2 center will match up with 2012 Defensive Player of the Year – 7-foot-1 Tyson Chandler.

Another good match to watch for will be Dirk Nowitzki and Luis Scola, who have had their battles back when Scola was a member of the Rockets.

PLAYER TO WATCH FOR 

Raymond Felton concluded his four-game suspension against Houston and is expected to make his regular season debut for Dallas against Indiana. He injured himself during the early goings of preseason. Felton couldn’t begin his suspension until it was deemed he was 100 percent healthy. Rick Carlisle would like to see how Felton fits in this offense and exactly when he’ll play with a guard-heavy roster.

INJURY REPORT

Pacers

Paul George (leg) – OUT

David West (ankle) – OUT

George Hill (knee) – DOUBTFUL

C.J. Watson (foot) – QUESTIONABLE

C.J. Miles (calf) – QUESTIONABLE

Roy Hibbert (ankle) – QUESTIONABLE

Rodney Stuckey (wrist) – QUESTIONABLE

NBA RANK

Pacers | Mavericks

Points For – 28 | 1

Points Allowed – 4 | 13

Rebounds – 2 | 20

Assists – 30 | 5

Steals – 30 | 5

Blocks – 2 | 5

FG% – 26 | 2

3PT% – 24 | 15

FT% – 24 | 11

100-point games 1 | 11

SEASON SERIES

The Mavericks won the season series last year, first defeating the Pacers on the road on Feb. 12 to go into the All-Star break. Monta Ellis had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points as the Mavericks dropped Indy to 40-12 with just its third home loss of the season. It was the Mavs sixth win in seven games, which handed the Pacers their first loss ever when holding their opponents to 92 points or less (31-1). George Hill had 14 points while Lance Stephenson and Danny Granger both added 13.

Devin Harris and Ellis scored 20 points apiece and the Mavericks extended Indiana’s season-long skid to four games with a 105-94 victory on March 9. Paul George led with 27 points and 11 boards while Dirk added 14 points for the Mavs. Dallas nearly blew a 17-point first-half lead, but Indy helped out by committing 20 turnovers.

WHO IS THIS TEAM

2013-14 Starting Rotation (2014-15 season)

PG George Hill (knee)

SG Lance Stephenson (Charlotte)

SF Paul George (leg)

PF David West (ankle)

C Roy Hibbert

Projected Starters  (2013-14 season)

PG Donald Sloan (IND – 1 start)

SG Solomon Hill (IND – No starts)

SF Chris Copeland (IND – No starts)

PF Luis Scola (IND – 2 starts)

C Roy Hibbert

THAT DUDE

It will take a few more games for Dirk to move up to eighth on the all time scoring list, but if the Big German hits four threes against the Pacers, he’ll become the 23rd player in NBA history with 1,500 career 3-pointers. He also needs four field goals to pass the Big O, Oscar Robertson for 16th in career field goals made with 9,509. In his past 12 games vs IND, Dirk is averaging 25 points on 50 percent shooting.

PRESEASON BATTLE

October 12 “Charlie V goes off in the 4th”

October 18 “Pacers earn 2nd preseason win”