DHJ Quick Take: Magic vs. Mavericks
- The Streak on the Line: Dallas enters tonight’s matchup looking to halt a 13-game home losing streak. The Mavericks haven’t tasted victory at American Airlines Center since Jan. 22, and with the Lakers and Luka Dončić looming on Sunday, snapping the skid tonight against Orlando is a psychological necessity.
- Wagner’s High-Stakes Return: After missing 22 games with a high ankle sprain, Franz Wagner is officially back in the fold. While he struggled with his shot in his Wednesday debut (0-of-6 from deep), his availability is the X-factor for an Orlando team currently tied with Charlotte for the 8th seed and desperate to climb back into the top six.
- Flagg vs. The Depth Chart: With Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II out for the season, Cooper Flagg has officially taken the reins, averaging 20.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. Tonight, he’ll be the primary focus of Paolo Banchero and the Magic defense as Dallas navigates a roster decimated by injuries to Marvin Bagley III, Caleb Martin, and P.J. Washington.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are limping home. Coming off a 123-99 beatdown in Milwaukee on Tuesday night — their second loss in as many days on a back-to-back that saw Daniel Gafford exit in the second quarter with a right shoulder stinger — the Mavericks (24-52) return to American Airlines Center on Friday to host the Orlando Magic. It is the 14th consecutive home game Dallas has played without a win, their last victory at AAC coming Jan. 22 against the Golden State Warriors.
Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals in Milwaukee, but it was not enough to offset a shorthanded roster that was already without Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II, Marvin Bagley III, Caleb Martin, P.J. Washington, and Naji Marshall before Gafford went down. Brandon Williams contributed 18 points and 6 assists, and Moussa Cissé delivered his most impactful outing of the season with 8 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes off the bench. But the Bucks pulled away in the second quarter and never looked back, pushing their lead to 31 at its peak.
“They’re a pretty physical team,” Williams said of Orlando. “Earlier when we played them, I didn’t play, so I got to watch from the sidelines. But you can see how they defend ball screens, especially with their guards and their bigs. They’ve got size with guys like Paolo, so it’s going to be a tough matchup. We’ve just got to be ready to compete.”
Flagg was candid about where Dallas must improve heading into Friday.
“A lot of stuff, but I think just helping each other out, rotating,” Flagg said. “Obviously, we gotta guard the three-point line better. But it starts with just guarding your man, keeping him in front so that we don’t have to get into a lot of rotations.”
The Magic, meanwhile, are running out of time to salvage their playoff seeding, and they are not waiting around at home to figure it out. Orlando (40-36) opens a two-game road trip Friday night at American Airlines Center, fleeing a home crowd that pelted them with boos after a 130-101 drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
The loss dropped the Magic two games behind the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with just 6 games remaining. They are currently tied with the Charlotte Hornets for eighth place, and the playoff picture is tightening with each passing night.
Franz Wagner Returns, but Orlando Magic Still Searching for Answers
Franz Wagner, who missed 22 consecutive games with a sprained left ankle, made his return against Atlanta, logging 20 minutes and posting 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He missed all 6 of his 3-point attempts and was one of several Magic starters who struggled from distance, as Orlando connected on just 6-of-32 from beyond the arc as a team.
Despite the rough re-entry, his presence is viewed as a significant boost heading into the stretch run. Desmond Bane, acquired via trade this season and averaging 20.4 points per game while shooting 39% from 3-point range, spoke to Dallas Hoops Journal during Friday’s shootaround about what Wagner’s return means for Orlando’s playoff push.
“Franz is a huge part of what we do,” Bane told Dallas Hoops Journal. “He brings pace, he brings energy, he brings leadership, and obviously scoring. He defends at a high level. He does just about everything you want out of a player on the basketball court. So he’s going to help us tremendously down the stretch.”
Wagner shared that same urgency in his postgame remarks Wednesday, acknowledging the weight of the moment.
“Obviously, we feel the frustration from the outside,” Wagner said after the loss. “Trust me when I say that we are probably more frustrated in the locker room trying to figure this out. But this is the NBA. Judgment and frustration from the fans are all part of it. We get paid way too much money to play this game, so it is on us to figure it out.”
Orlando will be shorthanded Friday, with Anthony Black sidelined by a left lateral abdominal strain and Jonathan Isaac out with a left knee sprain. The Magic are led by Paolo Banchero, who is averaging 22.4 points per game, and will need him to carry the offensive load with their depth tested.
Dallas Mavericks Decimated by Injuries, Home Losing Streak Reaches 13
The injury situation in Dallas is as dire as it has been all season. Friday’s game will once again be played without Kyrie Irving, who remains sidelined following left knee surgery, and Dereck Lively II, who has been sidelined since undergoing right foot surgery.
The frontcourt situation has grown even more precarious, with Marvin Bagley III, Caleb Martin, and P.J. Washington all listed as doubtful. Bagley is dealing with a left shoulder impingement, Martin is managing a right plantar fascia strain, and Washington is battling an illness. Gafford, who absorbed the right shoulder stinger in Milwaukee, does not appear on the injury report and is expected to be available.
Bane acknowledged during Friday’s shootaround that the Mavericks present a legitimate challenge regardless of their record.
“I think they’ve got good size across the board,” Bane told Dallas Hoops Journal. “They play fast. They’ve got a lot of guys that can penetrate and touch the paint. You’ve got to be locked into the game plan tonight.”
Bagley has been a bright spot since arriving in the Anthony Davis trade in February, posting a season-best 26 points and 9 rebounds at Portland last Friday before the shoulder injury took him out of the lineup.
Jason Kidd has credited the 27-year-old with finally playing within himself after years of expectation tied to being the No. 2 overall pick.
“Sometimes we all want to be someone else, and it just doesn’t work out,” Kidd said. “The sooner you can recognize who you are, you can have success, which he was having this year even before he got to us.”
Brandon Williams: ‘It’s an Opportunity Every Time’
Brandon Williams, who has emerged as one of Dallas’ primary ball-handlers alongside Ryan Nembhard this season, addressed the team’s mindset at practice ahead of Friday’s game.
“Not really thinking about a losing streak at all,” Williams said. “Just coming out here and trying to put our best foot forward. It’s an opportunity every time we step on the floor, and all of us know that. So we just come out here and compete.”
Williams, averaging 12.9 points and 3.8 assists in 22.1 minutes per game, has been vocal in his belief that the chemistry built through an arduous season will pay dividends going forward. He pointed to the team’s ability to stay connected despite what felt like multiple roster iterations throughout the year.
“It’s kind of felt like we had three different teams in one season,” Williams said. “But for the guys who stayed, it’s been about keeping everyone together, helping new guys feel at home, and just building that connection.”
Both Sides Agree: Cooper Flagg Is the Real Deal
One player who has not needed any help feeling at home is Flagg, who continues to draw praise from across the league. Williams did not hesitate when asked about Flagg’s standing in the Rookie of the Year race.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Williams said. “What he’s doing at 19 — people don’t realize he’s still a teenager because of how he carries himself and how mature he is. You don’t see that. His play speaks for itself. Even with our record being what it is, he comes out every night and competes. That says a lot.”
Bane, speaking from the opposing side, echoed the sentiment.
“I think he’s got a great motor — great feel for the game,” Bane told Dallas Hoops Journal. “The way he plays on both ends of the floor, his versatility — he’s been put in all types of different positions on the court this year. So I think the sky’s the limit for a kid like that.”
The two teams met once earlier this season, with Wendell Carter Jr. providing the decisive moment, a game-winning dunk with 1.4 seconds remaining that lifted Orlando to a 115-114 home victory.
Tip-off from American Airlines Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT on Friday.
More Dallas Mavericks Coverage Before Orlando Magic Matchup
- ‘I Was Not Part Of The Process’: Jason Kidd Addresses Luka Dončić Trade, Mark Cuban Comments
- ‘He’s Given Me That Confidence’: Cooper Flagg Credits Jason Kidd For Playmaking Evolution
- ‘Mentally Taxing’: Cooper Flagg Opens Up On Weight Of Losing Dallas Mavericks Season
- Dallas Mavericks’ Jason Kidd Responds To Mark Cuban’s Latest Comments On Luka Dončić Trade: ‘When Are We Going To Move On?’
- ‘Guys Aren’t On The Same Page’: Cooper Flagg Posts 12th Double-Double As Dallas Mavericks Lose 123-99 To Milwaukee Bucks, Injuries Pile Up
- ‘They Were Physical With Coop’: How Minnesota Handed Cooper Flagg One Of His Toughest Rookie Games
- ‘He Was Hunting’: How Cooper Flagg Reclaimed Rhythm To Snap Dallas Mavericks’ Skid In Portland
- ‘We Don’t Talk About Rookie Of The Year’: Cooper Flagg And Kon Knueppel Keep Duke Brotherhood Above The Race
- Dallas Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd Calls Cooper Flagg The ‘Clear-Cut’ NBA Rookie Of The Year
