INDIANAPOLIS -- This was not exactly what Darren Collison had in mind during his first game back in Indiana since the Pacers traded him to the Dallas Mavericks this past July.
Collison finished Friday's game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse with just 10 points, four assists and two rebounds in 32 minutes as the Pacers drilled the Mavs, 103-83, in their most lop-sided victory of the season.
"All-around, they just played a good team game,'' said Collison, who was only 3-of-10 from the field. "I just think that the first five minutes of the third quarter got away from us.''
The Mavs acquired Dahntay Jones and Collison in a sign-and-trade with the Pacers for center Ian Mahinmi, who scored seven points in 13 minutes Friday. Asked if he was emotional in returning to Indiana after he guided the Pacers to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, Collison said:
"A little bit, but for the most part I got my big issues to worry about with this team.''
Those "big issues'' include helping the Mavs out of a slump that has seen them drop four of their past five games. The remedy?
"Leave it in the past and just worry about the next game,'' Collison said. "There's no point in sulking about the last game.
"We've got a tough game tomorrow in Cleveland, so we''ve just got to leave it in the past and try to get this win. Road wins don't come easy in this league, so we'll be all right.''
-- Dwain Price
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