DALLAS — Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance with 32 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Daniel Gafford achieved a personal best this season with 18 points as the Dallas Mavericks rolled past the Orlando Magic 108-85 on Sunday evening.
In a dominant display, the Mavericks outscored the Magic 30-9 during the first 9:30 of the second quarter, establishing a substantial 65-40 lead by halftime. At one point, Dallas surged ahead by as many as 33 points during the game.
Orlando struggled in their second consecutive match without star player Paolo Banchero, the first overall selection in the 2022 draft and last year’s Rookie of the Year, who is sidelined due to a torn right oblique injury sustained on Wednesday.
Another key player for the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr., faced limitations as he managed only nine minutes in the first half, contributing six points and one rebound due to a left plantar fascia strain.
Franz Wagner led the Magic’s scoring with 13 points, but the team fell significantly short of their typical offensive output, averaging 111.7 points per game this season. Additionally, Kyrie Irving added 17 points for the Mavericks, while Dereck Lively II provided a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench.
In terms of assessment, the Magic were outperformed 52-36 in points scored in the paint and suffered from a dismal shooting performance from beyond the arc, converting only 19.5% of their three-point attempts (8 of 41), marking a season low.
On the Mavericks’ side, after a subpar outing against Houston in which Gafford scored just six points and grabbed three rebounds, he bounced back effectively with eight rebounds, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.
A pivotal moment in the game came when the Mavericks shifted the momentum, outscoring the Magic 13-2 in the last three minutes and ten seconds of the first quarter. During this stretch, Orlando failed to make any of their last six shot attempts, which included a desperate heave as the quarter ended.
Coach Jason Kidd emphasized the importance of maintaining an up-tempo pace within the offense, minimizing fouls, and securing rebounds. Dallas succeeded in implementing this strategy, outscoring Orlando 19-12 in fast-break points and achieving a season-high total with 53 rebounds in the matchup.
Looking ahead, the Magic are set to face the Thunder on Monday, while the Mavericks will play host to the Indiana Pacers, who are led by former Dallas coach Rick Carlisle, known for guiding the Mavericks to their sole NBA championship in 2011.