INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Myles Turner walked onto center stage Wednesday night -- and looked as comfortable in his starring role.
The Indiana Pacers second-year center scored 30 points, tied his career high with 16 rebounds, blocked four shots and made a 3-pointer in overtime that started the decisive 8-0 run in his first opening night start.
If Turner keeps this up, the Pacers could be celebrating a lot more than just a 130-121 season-opening victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
"I was talking to some of my friends about and they were saying `Take it easy on Dallas tonight,"' Turner said. "It was cool to go out like that against my hometown team. After the final buzzer sounded, everything hit me. It was just like, `Wow, I just did that."'
Before the game, new coach Nate McMillan told reporters he expected NBA teams to defend Turner differently this season and said his budding 20-year-old star would have to adapt. He looked just fine against the Mavs.
In a game that was supposed to be all about the Pacers' revamped roster and new up-tempo style, Turner stole the show by making 13 of 19 shots, coming up with big play after big play and overshadowing All-Stars Paul George and Dirk Nowitzki.
George added 25 points, including another 3 with 55 seconds left to seal Indiana's fifth season-opening win in six years.
"I loved the fight our guys showed in that overtime," McMillan said.
Deron Williams led Dallas with 25 points. J.J. Barea and Nowitzki each had 22 as the Mavs lost their fifth in a row in the series.
Dallas only led twice all night but managed to force overtime when Harrison Barnes' open 3 tied the score at 115 with 2.3 seconds left.
Turner could have won it in regulation with a long buzzer-beating 3, but the shot bounced off the back of the rim.
"He did a little bit of everything to hurt us," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said of Turner. "It was not just one thing he did. He was active and he got the ball in the basket."
