The Dallas Mavericks (19-36, 5-19 Away) prepare to face off with the Indiana Pacers (15-42, 10-18 Home) at 4 pm CST on Sunday. While Dallas is on the longest losing streak the franchise has seen since before my car renting age of 25, Indiana is also facing struggles as they were just handed back-to-back losses by a Washington Wizards team that has been eerily competitive of late. Someone has to win this one, right? Right?
A fascinating yin-yang of losing while fighting like heck
Yes, the Mavericks are losing as if their tankathon lives depend on it, but
if you actually watch these games, that is absolutely not what is happening on the court or the box scores. No matter who is in the starting lineup or who this team is up against, the Mavericks do not roll over, for anyone, full stop. This “win at all costs, we are not tanking” attitude from the players makes a refreshing dynamic to watch when compared to the decisions being made by other franchises, often in blatant fashion. The Mavericks roster is a combination of youth with varying degrees of potential mixed with veterans with a high level of pride in their craft who were either in the Finals less than two years ago or signed here expecting to help the team return. This double-digit game losing streak is noteworthy—not simply for its unparalleled length this century for the Mavericks—but for the duality of the positive impact it has on the Mavericks locker room to fight every game regardless of time and score, as well as the undeniable shift in lottery odds that comes with every loss.
For a team that aims to be a far more competitive squad next year, this is the best of both worlds. No tanking, just going all out and letting the roster and injury realities do for this team what other cities are seeing their teams not-so-subtly engineer.
Indiana’s flop year
When Tyrese Haliburton suffered a catastrophic injury in the first half of the seventh game of the 2025 NBA Finals, he had already scored 9 points in 7 minutes and had cast real doubt as to the outcome of the championship. Instead, once he tragically left the game, the Thunder mostly cruised to the finish line. That is what happens when you subtract the best player from a Finals roster, something Dallas—albeit in a far different way—had already learned by then.
The Pacers have been without their best remaining player—Pascal Siakam—since returning from the All-Star break. That may very well be the case tonight against the Mavericks. In his absence, the Pacers already porous defense is markedly worse as evidenced by Indiana allowing a career night to Alondes Williams. Don’t feel bad, I had never heard of him either.
This is the sort of game that Dallas can win, given how hungry the team is to notch a victory and end this losing streak.
Washington’s Woes
PJ Washington has seen an expected bump in usage with Cooper Flagg sidelined. His 5-17 effort, resulting in 12 points against Minnesota, was troubling. For Dallas to notch a win against Indiana, a better shooting performance from Washington would go a long way.
Where to Watch
This game will be broadcast on KFAA-TV and Mavs.com at 4pm CST. Go Mavs.
