Luka Dončić scores 32 as the Mavericks stifle the Magic 108-85 with a dominant defensive performance, holding Orlando under 90 points for the first time this season.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks extended their strong start to the season Sunday night with a commanding 108-85 victory over the Orlando Magic in a defensive showcase that underscored the team’s evolving identity under head coach Jason Kidd. Now 4-2, the Mavericks held the Magic under 90 points, a defensive milestone they didn’t reach once last season.
Luka Dončić led Dallas with 32 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, setting the tone early and propelling the Mavericks to a win that marked their 12th straight home victory over Orlando, dating back to Dallas’s 2010-11 championship season.
Dončić’s Dominant Start
Playing the entire first quarter, Dončić scored 25 points by halftime on 9-of-15 shooting, including five three-pointers. His relentless energy helped the Mavericks take a commanding 65-40 lead by halftime.
“Just be myself, play basketball, have fun out there,” Dončić said. “Today was real fun. We were guarding everybody, defending, rebounding, and playing with a lot of pace. That’s fun for me.”
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Kidd praised Dončić’s aggressive approach, noting his impact on both ends of the court, with a sense that he set the tone for the rest of the team. Dončić struggled early in games after he described previously as “rustiness” following not playing in preseason. He averaged 27.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists in five games, but he shot 38.7% from the floor and 29.2% from the perimeter.
“I thought his energy was great; it was in the right place, and as our leader, he set the tone right off the bat,” Kidd said. “The guys followed his lead, and I thought our bench was really good. Luka came out and did what he’s known for—dominating. But tonight, he dominated on both ends, offense and defense.”
Defensive Dominance Against a Shorthanded Magic
The Mavericks’ defense was at its best Sunday, limiting Orlando to fewer than 25 points each quarter—a feat Dallas hadn’t managed since March 3, 2021, against Oklahoma City. The Magic, missing star forward Paolo Banchero, struggled offensively, shooting 33.3% from the field and 19.5% from three-point range.
“It’s been a focus for us to come out and get stops early,” Kidd said. “We know we can score, but getting into a defensive rhythm, controlling the boards—those are the things that make us a tough team to play against.”
Strong Performance from Mavs’ Centers
Daniel Gafford delivered a season-high 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting and added 8 rebounds, providing a physical presence inside that helped stymie Orlando’s offense.
“They told me they’d go to me with the first play, and I was ready,” Gafford said. “It was really about having patience offensively and letting the game come to me.”
Dereck Lively II notched his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds, adding to Dallas’s control in the paint. Dallas improved to 8-2 when Lively finished with a double-double.
“Gafford was good, and D Live (Dereck Lively II) had a double-double,” Kidd said. “Our centers are a big part of our team on both ends of the floor. D Live has been giving us second and third chances all season, and defensively, he’s been able to change shots. Both of them set the tone in the paint tonight.”
Support Across the Roster
Several other Mavericks made valuable contributions. Kyrie Irving added 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, converting 6-of-7 free throws and adding 2 steals, while Klay Thompson tallied 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 28 minutes, contributing beyond the score sheet. P.J. Washington added seven points on 3-of-4 shooting, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in nearly 29 minutes, showcasing his versatility on both ends.
Naji Marshall provided a spark off the bench with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in 21 minutes. His energy and defensive versatility helped maintain Dallas’s intensity throughout the game.
“I think Naji changed that coming off the bench; he played amazing today,” Dončić said. “He’s a very complete player… just getting used to it here. He’s going to keep getting better.”
Looking Ahead: Indiana Matchup
The Mavericks will face the Indiana Pacers on Monday night, continuing their five-game homestand and concluding a back-to-back. With the entire NBA taking a break for Election Day on Tuesday, every team is in action Monday night, resulting in a late tipoff at 8:45 p.m. CST at the American Airlines Center.
Sunday’s victory marked the Mavericks’ first 20-point win, a margin they hit nine times last year. Kidd used the comfortable lead to rest key players and prepare to wrap up a back-to-back the following night.
“This is how we want to start,” Kidd said. “We’re not satisfied yet, but this is a good step. Taking care of business early gave us that chance to rest our main guys a bit… the later game tomorrow means more recovery time.”
With a balanced offense, strong defense, and contributions from across the roster, Dallas aims to carry its momentum forward as it continues its homestand and solidifies its defense-first identity.
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