Kyrie Irving scores 24 as Dallas beats Indiana 121-105 for its first win, but Cooper Flagg’s injury creates concern ahead of the Mavericks’ home opener.

The Dallas Mavericks finally have their first victory of the 2026-27 NBA season, but Friday night’s 121-105 win over the Indiana Pacers came with a potentially significant price.

Kyrie Irving scored 24 points, P.J. Washington delivered 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Dallas built a commanding first-half lead at Gainbridge Fieldhouse before holding off an Indiana comeback.

Unfortunately for the Mavericks, the biggest storyline after the final buzzer centered on Cooper Flagg.

The second-year forward suffered an injury late in the first half following a hard flagrant foul by Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith and did not return. Flagg had been enjoying an outstanding performance, recording 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals in just 17 minutes.

His availability for Dallas’ upcoming home opener remains uncertain.

The Mavericks (1-1) wasted little time taking control Friday, exploding for 44 first-quarter points and overwhelming Indiana with an aggressive offensive attack.

Dallas followed with 33 points in the second quarter, carrying a remarkable 77-43 advantage into halftime.

It was a dramatic improvement from Wednesday’s disappointing 128-110 season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets.

Irving provided the offensive leadership, knocking down five 3-pointers while continuing his climb up the franchise’s all-time scoring list. His performance moved him past former Mavericks star Mark Aguirre.

Washington was equally important, contributing three blocked shots along with his double-double. His rebounding and defensive presence helped stabilize Dallas when Indiana began making its second-half push.

Max Christie added 16 points, giving the Mavericks another productive scoring option.

But Dallas made things considerably more interesting than necessary.

Indiana outscored the Mavericks 33-21 in the third quarter, cutting into what had appeared to be an insurmountable deficit.

The Pacers continued applying pressure in the fourth, particularly after Irving encountered foul trouble and eventually fouled out.

Dallas ultimately preserved the victory, although the uneven second half exposed some of the same consistency concerns that surfaced in the opener.

For the Mavericks, the win represents an encouraging response after a difficult opening night. Getting Irving back into an offensive rhythm and receiving strong contributions from Washington were clear positives.

Still, Flagg’s health now becomes the team’s most pressing concern.

Dallas returns home Saturday, October 24, to face the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT.

The matchup presents a quick turnaround against Victor Wembanyama and a talented division rival.

With Dereck Lively already sidelined by a foot injury, the Mavericks could face additional frontcourt challenges if Flagg is unable to play.

Dallas has its first win. Now the question is whether it can build momentum while keeping its young star healthy.