"We have a new team, we got to get acclimated," Granger said. "We don't have time to just breeze through the preseason. We're actually trying to win some games."

Antoine Wright scored 14 points, James Singleton added 11 points and nine rebounds, and DeSagana Diop contributed 10 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who dropped to 3-1 in the preseason.

Dallas guards Jason Kidd and Jerry Stackhouse, and center Erick Dampier did not play because of a coach's decision. Dirk Nowitzki had two points in 12 minutes.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle returned to Indiana, where he spent four years coaching the Pacers. During his tenure in Indiana, he led the Pacers to three straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the 2004 Eastern Conference finals.

"This will always feel like home in a certain way," he said.

Carlisle was impressed with the new-look Pacers.

"They play with a lot of energy at both ends," he said. "You don't hear this expression much, but they really compete hard offensively. It's impressive."

Dallas jumped out to an 11-2 lead on Josh Howard's layup early in the first quarter. Indiana outscored the Mavericks 25-10 the rest of the period to open a six-point advantage.

The Pacers took a 45-43 lead on Stephen Graham's layup with 2:35 left in the second quarter, but Dallas scored the final seven points of the half to go up by five.

Indiana, which regained a three-point edge entering the fourth quarter, pushed the lead to 87-78 following a pair of baskets by Jack. Shawne Williams' dunk cut the deficit to six, and Rush answered with consecutive shots to give the Pacers a 91-81 lead with 7 minutes left.

"We're starting to jell together, we're starting to know how to play with each other," Rush said. "I think we're bonding pretty good."

This was the Pacers' third home game, but first at Conseco Fieldhouse. They had played at the Pepsi Coliseum in Indianapolis and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"It was good for us to finally get a win in front of our fans," Rush said.

Notes: Pacers guards Mike Dunleavy (sore right knee), Travis Diener (sore left foot) and Marquis Daniels (strained left groin), and F Troy Murphy (sore left Achilles') did not play. ... Williams made his debut with the Mavericks, finishing with four points in 21 minutes. He was traded to Dallas from Indiana on Oct. 10 for Eddie Jones and two future draft picks. "I'm just trying to play ball and be a professional," Williams said. ... Pacers F Austin Croshere received a big ovation from the Conseco Fieldhouse crowd when he entered in the second quarter. Croshere spent his first nine years in the NBA with Indiana and is trying to make the team as a free agent.