Dallas Mavericks vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions for Friday October 23 2026
Dallas didn’t get much enjoyment out of its trip to Houston Wednesday. The Mavericks lost 128-110, and giving up 128 points isn’t the sort of start that gets everybody excited about a new season. Indiana had a better night, slipping past New Orleans 123-120. The Pacers weren’t exactly locking anybody down either, but at least they got the win.
The Mavericks head to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday, October 23, 2026. Tipoff is at 7:00 PM ET. Indiana are 5.5-point favorites at -115, with the total at 235.5. The Pacers are around -218 on the moneyline. More games are covered in our free NBA picks.
Dallas Mavericks Need More Than Their Opening Performance
Dallas are 0-1 after losing by 18 in Houston. Scoring 110 points isn’t necessarily a disaster, but the Rockets put up 128, and that’s a difficult number to overcome. The Mavericks now have to travel again, with little time to correct whatever went wrong defensively.
Dallas need to slow Indiana’s transition game and make the Pacers work in the half court. That sounds simple enough until you watch how quickly Indiana can turn a defensive rebound into a scoring chance. The Mavericks can’t afford careless turnovers or possessions that end with everybody standing around watching a difficult shot. Houston already showed what happens when Dallas let an opponent find its rhythm.
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Cooper Flagg is a major part of Dallas’ long-term plans, while Anthony Davis gives the Mavericks an established interior presence when healthy. Dallas need both creation and dependable defense from their available rotation. The final injury report is especially important this early in the season, and I wouldn’t assume every prominent name is cleared to play without checking.
Indiana Pacers Have A Chance To Start 2-0
Indiana won 123-120 at New Orleans on Wednesday. That’s the good news. The less encouraging part is allowing 120 points, especially with another opponent coming to town just two days later. Still, road wins count, and the Pacers found enough offense to get one.
Indiana have an opportunity to attack a Dallas defense that just conceded 128. If the Pacers get out and run, Dallas could spend another evening trying to catch up. Indiana’s own defense needs attention, though. A team that gives up 120 in its opener shouldn’t assume a comfortable win simply because the next opponent lost.
Indiana’s rotation has enough offensive talent to create problems, with Pascal Siakam among the established scoring options. The Pacers also rely on contributions from their supporting guards and frontcourt players. With the season barely underway, the sensible approach is to weigh the opening result without pretending a single game tells us exactly how the whole roster will perform.
Dallas Mavericks vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions
Indiana Pacers -5.5 (-115)
I’ll lay 5.5 with Indiana. The Pacers just scored 123 on the road, and Dallas gave up 128 to Houston. Those two results don’t guarantee anything, but they suggest Indiana should get the sort of game it wants. Dallas have enough talent to make this competitive if they defend properly. I just haven’t seen evidence of that yet. Indiana are at home and have the better opening result. That’s enough for me at this number.
Over 235.5 (-110)
Dallas and Houston combined for 238 points. Indiana and New Orleans combined for 243. Both games went beyond Friday’s total, and neither defense looked particularly convincing. There is a risk the shooting cools off after opening night, but I expect Indiana to push the pace and Dallas to score enough to contribute. Indiana 124, Dallas 115.
Final Picks: Indiana Pacers -5.5 (-115) and Over 235.5 (-110)
This preview was completed October 22, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before tipoff.
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