Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, left, defends Dallas Mavericks guard Monta Ellis during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. The mavericks defeated the Pacers 81-73. AP
INDIANAPOLIS—Monta Ellis scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday to spark the Dallas Mavericks over Indiana 81-73, the Pacers settling for a season-low point total.
German star Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points and six rebounds for the Mavericks, who won for the sixth time in seven games, while Ellis added nine rebounds and six assists for Dallas.
Indiana fell to 40-12 on the season, dropping to the second-best mark in the NBA behind Oklahoma City’s 42-12, while the Mavericks improved to 32-22, seventh in the Western Conference.
The Pacers had balanced scoring with George Hill netting 14 points, Lance Stephenson adding 13 points and 10 rebounds and Paul George contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.
George’s jumper pulled Indiana level at 66-66 midway into the fourth quarter but the Mavericks scored the next eight points to seize command.
Brandan Wright had a jumper and a layup and Ellis and Nowitzki each had two free throws in the critical run, which put Dallas ahead 74-66 with 3:47 to play.
A George 3-pointer from the left corner pulled the Pacers within 76-73 with 37 seconds remaining but Ellis added four late free throws to seal the Mavericks’ triumph.
Dallas produced 20 points off 20 Indiana turnovers and kept the Pacers shooting only 32.1 percent, 27-of-84, from the court for the game.
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