Matthews, Barnes Lead Mavericks Past Pacers 111-103

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DALLAS (AP) — A night after a 31-point home loss that embarrassed Wesley Matthews and his teammates, they all showed up at a charity event hosted by the Dallas shooting guard.

Coach Rick Carlisle called it a team-building moment for the unit with the worst record in the Western Conference. Matthews couldn't really disagree.

"I'll have an event every night if that's what we're going to do," Matthews said after matching a season high with 26 points as the injury-plagued Mavericks answered their lowest point in a difficult season with a 111-103 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

A listless second half in a 120-89 loss to Sacramento prompted a team meeting. Two nights later, the Mavericks started the third quarter with a 10-2 run for their first double-digit lead in just their third win in 15 games. Harrison Barnes scored 25 points.

"That game, I think it ate at a lot of people, as it should," said Matthews, who was 8 of 16 from the field and 5 of 10 from 3-point range. "I was embarrassed. I think a lot of other people were, too."

Indiana had 10 3-pointers in the first quarter and a half, including four from Dallas high school product C.J. Miles. But the Pacers couldn't sustain it against the NBA's worst defensive team at the arc, finishing 14 of 25.

Paul George scored 22 points to lead the Pacers (11-12), who failed for the third straight time with a chance to get above .500. Indiana hasn't had a winning record since dropping Game 2 at Brooklyn after beating Dallas at home in overtime in the opener.

"It's real disappointing," said George, who had just nine points after the first quarter. "I don't know what it is. I don't have the answers for that."

Matthews outscored the Pacers by himself during a 32-11 spurt that turned a 50-42 deficit into a 74-61 lead. He had 16 points during the run , capped by a 3-pointer midway through the third quarter.

The Mavericks (5-17) shot 58 percent in the third quarter, making six of 12 from long range and outscoring the Pacers 31-25. In a 120-89 loss to Sacramento on Wednesday, Dallas was outscored 29-12 in the third.

Dallas is without starters Dirk Nowitzki (strained right Achilles tendon) and Andrew Bogut (right knee injury) and key backup guard J.J. Barea (left calf strain).

"We are in desperate need of wins," Carlisle said. "We really played a solid game tonight."

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