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    • Myles Turner scores 30 points and 11 rebounds in the win
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    Myles Turner scores 30 points and 11 rebounds in the win

    Kathleen William Posted on

    DALLAS — Myles Turner didn't say exactly what his in-season trips home to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolis were like when he was a younger man with fewer responsibilities, only vaguely hinting at a certain evolution in his life made her more reserved.

    “I have a girlfriend now, so I’m just worried about myself and my family,” Turner said.

    But trips home are still meaningful for the 28-year-old Turner, even if they are quieter. The native of Bedford, Texas — which is about 20 minutes west of downtown Dallas and 16 minutes east of downtown Fort Worth — still shows up at American Airlines, representing his home state with his giant cowboy boots and array of cowboy hats. His mother decorated the one he wore Monday with a collection of pins, including one with an Indiana Pacers logo, outlines of the states of Texas and Indiana with the state flags included, and a 2015 NBA Draft pin commemorating his year remembered selected. He also meets dozens of friends from home – family, former teammates, former opponents and friends from high school and college who didn't even play basketball.

    “I think there’s just a good vibe around me,” Turner said. “I have a lot of people who come from Bedford, Texas and the Bedford area supporting me. A lot of the people I grew up playing against also play around here, so sometimes I have over 75 people out there that I need. Show me your love. I don't know, there's just a good atmosphere everywhere.

    Typically, Turner takes advantage of these good vibes and turns them into strong performances. Before Monday's game in Dallas, he was already averaging 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in eight career games while shooting 55.7% from the floor and 44.4% from three -Point range shot. But Monday's performance was arguably his strongest, and it came at a time when the Pacers needed something to prevent their young season from falling into slump. The 2023-24 Eastern Conference finalists are now 3-4 and still under .500, but two of their wins come against the two reigning conference champions after a win over the Celtics on Wednesday.

    Turner scored 30 points – his career high at American Airlines Arena – on 10 of 17 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range with 11 rebounds, in the Pacers' revitalizing 134-127 victory over the defending Western Conference champions , Mavericks. It was Turner's third double-double in Dallas, but only his first of the season, and he helped set the tone for the Pacers on both ends, matching the Mavericks' high-powered offense shot for shot and just enough Closing stops put the game on the edge.

    “I just had to keep an aggressive mindset,” Turner said. “I think I've kind of faded into the background the last few games. When I'm aggressive, good things happen. The other team has to make adjustments and other guys get going. From there it just kept going.

    Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said it's most important for Turner to be more aggressive on the glass before he thinks about being more aggressive on offense. Although Turner is the Pacers' all-time leading shot blocker, his rebounding numbers have been much more modest throughout his career and so far this season they have been slightly worse. Entering Monday's action, Turner was averaging 6.8 rebounds per game for his career, without ever producing a season in which he averaged more than 7.5 per game. However, in his first five games this year, that number had dropped to 5.8 per game, and after scoring a total of 16 points in his first two games, he had not scored more than five points in his last three games.

    Carlisle said he and head assistant coach Lloyd Pierce spoke with Turner yesterday about focusing on getting 10 rebounds per game as a goal. Turner took this to heart. He thought it was particularly important considering what happened to the Pacers' center position, as backups Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman each suffered torn Achilles tendons, sidelining both players for most, if not all, of the season season, canceled. For now, until the Pacers sign a new center from the free agent market, they will need more minutes from Turner and will likely use power forward Obi Toppin as a backup center. Toppin was a very effective scorer for the Pacers, especially in transition, but he never averaged 4.0 rebounds per game in a season.

    “I can’t be a center that averages five, six rebounds a game,” Turner said. “I know that. I think that's something I've been criticized for the most. It's just a matter of shifting my attention there and being more intentional about getting to the right side of the glass, especially now that we're down a few guys. I have to.’ It’s just going to be a habit to move up in this category. I don't think it's a skill to go out there and do it.

    Turner had two rebounds in the first three minutes of the game and three at the end of the first quarter, then seven by halftime. Ten of the eleven players came on defense and he helped the Pacers win the rebound battle 46:38. The Mavericks finished with just eight second-chance points to five offensive rebounds, categories that have been problematic for the Pacers this season. Dallas played without Dereck Lively II, who is dealing with a shoulder sprain, but centers Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell combined for four rebounds while Turner and Toppin combined for 17 rebounds.

    “Let's be honest,” Carlisle said. “We overtook them and won the game. We have overtaken three teams in seven games and are 3-4. He set the tone. He had two big rebounds to start the game. …If not, focus on everything else except defensive coverage and the details there. If he gets 10 rebounds, that’s a game-changer for us.”

    However, his offense also changed the game. He scored on a friendly 3-pointer in the first quarter that gave the Pacers an 8-2 lead as part of a 15-2 run to start the game, and immediately afterward the Mavericks finally answered with a 3 -Point throw by All- Turner, NBA point guard Luka Doncic threw a dunk over Doncic, drew a foul and converted a 3-point play that made it 18-5.

    Obviously, the Mavericks responded and the two teams spent most of the game answering each other shot for shot, but Turner's shots were crucial in keeping the Pacers just ahead of Dallas for most of the game. He scored 11 points on 3 of 5 shooting in the first quarter with two 3-pointers and three free throws. He had 15 points at halftime, then scored 13 on 5 of 7 shooting, including 3 of 4 3-pointers in the third quarter. This helped the Pacers maintain their lead despite the Mavericks scoring 36 points in the period.

    When Turner plays like he has been, he allows the rest of the Pacers offense to function better. Because he can score from the 3-point line, mid-range and at the basket, he is strong coverage when setting a ball screen because he can roll to the rim, create or shoot a short throw, or pop and drill 3s . The Mavericks needed to get some attention on him, and that allowed point guard Tyrese Haliburton to have more downs than he had all season with 25 points and 12 assists.

    “He can really create space on the floor,” Haliburton said. “He is one of the best shooters to ever play the game. He can really space me out in the pick-and-roll. I think it's a different threat for Dallas because two rim protectors are used to getting on the ball. “If we have Myles in a trail position and have to guard him a little bit more, we feel like he did a good job taking advantage of that.

    Everything came together around Turner on Monday night in a way that it hasn't in most cases so far this season. They broke the 130-point mark in the regular season for the first time this season and the 120-point mark for only the second time. Seven Pacers scored in double figures and outscored the Mavericks 76-58 in the game, while also knocking down 13 3-pointers on 32 attempts (40.6%). They shot a season-high 56.8% from the floor and recorded their season-best efficiency number of 1.25 points per possession. Both teams ran the entire game, but the Pacers outscored the Mavericks 26-15 in fast break points.

    “We got into the flow of things and started making shots, which was great for us,” Haliburton said. “I think being who we are. This is the identity I have helped to create since I put on the Pacers uniform. Everyone has kind of bought into it and is building on it.”

    Turner is central to that identity on both sides, and the version of him that always shows up in Dallas is what they need to be the best version of themselves.

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    Kathleen William
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