The Dallas Mavericks will be looking for their first win of the season Friday night when they face the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, a game that also marks Tyrese Haliburton’s first non-exhibition game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since June 19, 2025.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CDT, and both teams arrive with something to show after Wednesday night. Dallas lost to the Houston Rockets in Houston, while Indiana beat the New Orleans Pelicans and outscored them 27-10 on fastbreak points.
What the Mavericks need to fix
The early challenge for Dallas is not just the matchup itself, but the stretch that comes with it. The Mavericks are facing a difficult first month because of the second-strongest schedule based on last season’s winning percentages, so there will not be much room to settle in slowly.
If they want to be competitive against Indiana, the Mavericks will need better outside shooting and better ball security. Those are the two clearest issues identified entering the game, and they will matter even more against a Pacers team that showed speed and energy in its opener.
Why the Haliburton return matters
Haliburton’s return adds another layer to a game that already carries early-season significance. It will be his first non-exhibition game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since June 19, 2025, when he last played there against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That backdrop gives Friday’s matchup a little extra weight, even with the season still young. For Dallas, though, the focus is simpler: stop the slide, clean up the mistakes, and try to leave Indianapolis with the first win of the year.
