Caleb Martin came into the game with 3.7 seconds left and a lead to defend. There was no time for him to make a basket, which suited this particular assignment. Dallas already had 125 points. The job was to make sure Indiana stayed at 122.
At 0.9 seconds, Martin deflected Andrew Nembhard’s pass and was credited with a steal. The clock expired before Indiana could create another chance, closing a 125-122 Mavericks victory Monday at American Airlines Center. Martin finished with zero points, but his final defensive touch carried more weight than that empty scoring line.
The timing mattered because Indiana had spent the closing minutes turning Dallas’ small advantages into immediate problems. Aaron Nesmith made three free throws with 1:14 remaining to cut the deficit to 118-116. After Cooper Flagg answered with a jumper, Nesmith hit a 3-pointer at 52.1 seconds, making it 120-119.
Flagg scored again, but Nesmith came back with another 3-pointer at 20.6 seconds, pulling Indiana within 123-122.
Kyrie Irving had made two free throws to put Dallas up by three. Indiana had already shown it could find shots from that distance, and a pair of missed Dallas free throws gave it another look at the ball. Martin came in for Irving after the timeout and took away the pass before the Pacers could even attempt a shot.
That was the loudest moment of a night in which Martin’s offensive work arrived through passing rather than scoring. He finished with five assists, and four came on baskets by Dallas’ two highest scorers. Martin found Cooper Flagg for an 8-foot driving floater with 10:26 left in the third quarter.
He then assisted Irving on a 23-foot 3-pointer at 8:39 and an Irving running jumper at 7:56.
In the fourth quarter, Martin set up Irving for another 23-foot 3-pointer at 9:36. That shot put Dallas ahead 98-97, part of the Mavericks’ 35-point final quarter. Martin was not taking shots away from the stars; he was helping create the looks that allowed them to carry the scoring burden.
Flagg finished with a season-high 43 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, scoring 30 points after halftime. Irving added 35 points and made seven 3-pointers, his best total from deep this season. Dallas needed both of them, especially after Indiana led 66-56 at halftime and still held a 93-90 advantage entering the fourth.
