Emotions Surge at Pacers’ Home Opener
There was a lot of energy at the Pacers’ home opener, though not quite in the way fans might have expected.
The 2025 Eastern Conference champions celebrated the return of Tyrese Haliburton, who was playing his first home game after his Achilles injury during Game 7 of the NBA Finals 16 months ago. However, they faced a strong challenge from the Mavericks, who ended up clinching the game with a score of 121-105.
As the Mavericks built a significant lead, something unfortunate happened on the court. Just before halftime, Pacers player Aaron Nesmith committed a hard foul against rising star Cooper Flagg during a dunk attempt.
Following that foul, the atmosphere became tense. Flagg had to go to the locker room due to a shoulder injury, and Nesmith received a flagrant foul along with a double technical for escalating the situation. Mavericks player Naji Marshall also got involved, trying to protect Flagg.
Interestingly, two Mavericks players ventured off the bench, but their coach, Dusty May, suggested they were checking on Flagg and might steer clear of any penalties from the league.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I’ve known him since he was in high school,” May commented, reflecting on the incident. “It’s an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop’s fine.”
As Flagg made his way to the locker room, he appeared to be in pain but remained upbeat. May later mentioned that Flagg would undergo evaluation in the coming days.
“Cooper has left shoulder soreness; he’ll be evaluated in the next couple of days,” May noted, addressing the possibility of an MRI. “I really don’t know. I saw him in the locker room; he’s in good spirits. We’ll figure out the next steps shortly.”
Flagg did not address the media after the game.
With this victory, the Mavericks improved to a record of 1-1, leaving the Pacers with the same standing.
Flagg had a strong start to the season, racking up 32 points in his first game in Houston. In Indiana, he managed 14 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals within just 17 minutes before his exit.
The Mavericks will be heading to Dallas for their next game against the defending Western Conference champion Spurs, while the Pacers are set to face the Nets in Brooklyn on Sunday.
