INDIANAPOLIS -- Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle provided a spark, and his team played just as he hoped. Monta Ellis had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points as the Mavericks handed the Indiana Pacers their third home loss of the season, 81-73 on Wednesday night. "Coach got on us pretty good this morning," Nowitzki said. "I thought we responded. We battled them and tried to make it tough on them." The Mavericks (32-22), who have won six of seven, finished a three-game road trip heading into the NBA All-Star break. Dallas five-game winning streak was snapped at Charlotte on Tuesday. "It wasnt that we didnt respect Charlotte," Carlisle said. "Its that we had such great respect for Indiana. We knew we were going to have to play at a super high level." It wasnt easy for either team. Dallas won despite its second-lowest point total this season. The NBAs highest-scoring team netted only 80 points in a loss to New York on Jan. 5. The Mavericks came out on top by holding the Pacers to a season-worst 32.1 per cent shooting. George Hill had 14 points, and Lance Stephenson and Danny Granger both scored 13 for the Pacers (40-12), who have lost two of three. "They beat us at our game," Hill said. "They played well tonight and we just didnt play good enough. We gave one away. Its unfortunate, but its over now." The Mavericks outscored the Pacers 21-11 in the final quarter and scored the first six points of the fourth. Dallas took a 66-62 lead when Ellis made a free throw with 6:55 remaining. Brandan Wright scored, Ellis made two more free throws, and Wright made a layup to give the Mavericks a 72-66 edge. Ellis made a 3-pointer early in the second half to give the Mavericks a 46-42 lead. West hit a jumper, Samuel Dalembert also scored, and Hill sank a 3-pointer to make it 48-47. Paul George scored to give the Pacers their first lead of the second half, 53-52, with 6:12 left in the quarter. Indiana built its edge to 60-55, but Dallas scored five straight to tie it with 2:20 remaining in the third. Pacers coach Frank Vogel reminded his team leading up to Wednesdays game that the All-Star break didnt begin until after Indianas meeting with Dallas. "I wanted to make that clear to all of our guys," Vogel said. "Weve got work to do. We want to go into the break ahead 3 1/2 games." The Mavericks spoiled that for the Pacers. Indiana outshot the Mavericks in the fourth quarter, but Dallas pulled away by making 13 of 16 from the free throw line. Hill scored late to make it 74-68, but Ellis made a pair of free throws. Stephenson scored on a lay-up, and George grabbed a steal and later hit a 3-pointer to make it 76-73 with 37 seconds remaining. Ellis scored four straight points from the line to give the Mavericks an 80-73 advantage. "We were able to make just enough plays," Carlisle said. "It was just a very competitive game from start to finish. There was a lot of attitude in the game, which is great. We were able to get out of here alive." The Mavericks are already looking past the break, and things wont be any easier then. Dallas will hosts the Miami Heat in the first game after All-Star weekend. NOTES: Indiana had 10 offensive rebounds and scored a season-low four second-chance points. . The last time the Mavericks won in Indianapolis was November 2009. . Mavericks guard Gal Mekel was out after having right knee surgery. . Dallas guard Devin Harris didnt play because of knee and ankle injuries. ... The Pacers committed 20 turnovers and fell to 5-4 when they have at least 20. T. J. Leaf Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Jamaal Tinsley Jersey . -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wanted to keep Logan Mankins with the team for a long time. https://www.cheappacers.com/1083k-terence-stansbury-jersey-pacers.html . With the team he supported as a child on the verge of reaching the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 19 years, Ba instead scored the goal that knocked them out. Glenn Robinson III Jersey . Of all the names out there who could realistically be dealt by Wednesdays deadline, Ryan Kesler remains No. 1 on the most desired list. And while were not sure if theyre any closer to a deal, we now have a defined price. Freddie Lewis Jersey . The outdoor event will be played on Dec. 31 between alumni of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.CHICAGO (5-6) at DETROIT (7-4)Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Lions by 7RECORD VS. SPREAD — Chicago 5-6, Detroit 5-6SERIES RECORD — Bears lead 96-67-5LAST MEETING — Lions beat Bears 21-19, Nov. 10, 2013LAST WEEK — Bears beat Buccaneers 21-13; Lions lost to Patriots 34-9AP PRO32 RANKING — Bears No. 20, Lions No. 14BEARS OFFENSE — OVERALL (16), RUSH (20), PASS (14).BEARS Defence — OVERALL (21), RUSH (12), PASS (2.LIONS OFFENSE — OVERALL (21), RUSH (30), PASS (10).LIONS Defence — OVERALL (3), RUSH (1), PASS (10).STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Lions beat Green Bay last season to snap nine-game Thanksgiving losing streak. ... Bears will play on Thanksgiving for first time since 2004, when they lost at Dallas. ... Detroit swept Chicago last year after losing nine of previous 10 in series..dddddddddddd... Bears DE Willie Young had six sacks in four years with Detroit. He now has eight sacks in first season with Chicago. ... Bears DE Jared Allen has 15 1/2 sacks in 13 games against Lions, all when he was with Vikings. ... Chicago has no points in 15 possessions in its two-minute offence. ... Lions WR Calvin Johnson has TD catch in last five Thanksgiving games. ... Detroit LB DeAndre Levy has seven INTs since 2013, most by LB in NFL. .. Detroit DT Ndamukong Suh trying for fifth straight game against Bears with sack. ... Lions have allowed 190 points, fewest in league. ... Detroit averaging 4.28 yards per play on first down, worst mark in NFL. ... Lions have made NFL-worst 57 per cent of their FGs.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '