During Friday’s game against the Mavericks at American Airlines Center, the Magic scored 130-plus points for the 10th time this season, shot 53.8% from 3-point range and racked up 54 points in the paint.
All of those offensive marks were needed for Orlando to leave Dallas on top 138-127 in a high-scoring affair that saw Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg post 51 points, 24 of which were recorded in the fourth quarter.
The Mavs notched 30-plus points in three of the four frames, finished 46% from the floor and almost matched Orlando’s points in the paint total with 48 by the end of the night.
While their defensive effort came in spurts, the Magic performed well enough on offense to capture a win that marked the franchise’s first on the road at Dallas since 2011.
“We stayed consistent on the offensive end,” said Wendell Carter Jr., who led the way with a season-high 28 points. “We relied on our process over our results, and the results came together. So, it was a good offensive game for us. Defensively, we could do a little bit of a better job of locking in on a guy like Cooper.
“Cooper did a really good job tonight,” he added. “He just stayed relentless throughout the whole game. But for the most part I think we just did a really good job sticking to our game plan, playing physical and that being that.”
Not only did the Montverde Academy grad do a “really good job,” but he also pieced together a historic performance.
Shooting 19-of-30 (63.3%) from the field, 6-of-9 (66.7%) from deep and 7-of-7 from the free throw line, Flagg became just the 21st player in NBA history to record 50-plus points, shooting 60%-or better from the field and behind the 3-point line as well as 100% from the charity strip. He is the only rookie to accomplish the feat.
It’s another feather in his cap as Flagg makes a strong push for the league’s rookie of the year award.
“Cooper’s one of those guys, he’s going to be in this league for a long time,” Carter, a fellow Duke product, said. “Tonight showed how talented he is as a player. The sky’s the limit for that kid.”
For Orlando, fifth-year forward Franz Wagner continued to recapture his flow on the court in just his second game back from an extended rehab of a left high ankle sprain.
The German forward moved with confidence constantly attacking the paint and making plays for teammates when he totaled 18 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in a restricted 17 minutes.
“I feel all right,” Wagner said. “Gotta manage the minutes and stuff like that. I think that’s just part of it. I felt that I definitely felt better than last game, though.”
Added Magic coach Jamahl Mosley about Wagner: “It’s good to see him finding a rhythm and the fact that we can not burn him all the way out in a game like this, is big time.”
And it wasn’t only Wagner and Carter who helped the Magic take down Dallas. Six players ended in doubles figures and the team distributed 35 assists, the third-most for Orlando this season.
The Magic improved to 9-1 when scoring 130-or-more points and 14-4 while totaling 30-plus assists.
“That’s the beauty of this team,” Carter said. “I think from top to bottom, we’ve got guys who can go get it any night. So when we play free, open (and) as one unit, I think we’re one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
“If we can continue to do that for these last couple of games, be in a good spot going into the playoffs, it’ll give us a really good chance,” he added.
Getting to the playoffs, however, is still no guarantee for the Magic.
No. 9 Orlando (41-36) entered Saturday’s slate of contests two games behind both No. 6 Philadelphia (43-34) and No. 7 Toronto (43-34), a half-game back of No. 8 Charlotte (42-36) and only a game in front of No. 10 Miami (40-37) in the Eastern Conference standings.
Seeds 7-10 in each conference compete in the Play-In for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.
The Magic get another opportunity to record a win over a lowly Western Conference opponent at New Orleans on Sunday. Dropping seven in a row, the Pelicans (25-53) enter the matchup with only one more win on the season than Dallas (24-53) had on Friday.
Orlando will still be without Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) on the first night of a back-to-back. The Magic host the Pistons at Kia Center on Monday.
“Especially offensively, I think we made some good steps,” Wagner said about Friday’s showing. “Now it’s just a matter of consistency and just keep working on that.”
Osceola advances in G League playoffs
The Osceola Magic advanced to their second-straight Eastern Conference Finals after a 123-116 win over the Motor City Cruise on Friday night.
Orlando’s G League affiliate will host the Greensboro Swarm at 6 p.m. on Sunday at Osceola Heritage Park. Fans can also watch the game on Amazon’s Prime Video.
“That’s big time,” Mosley said about Osceola advancing. “They’ve done an unbelievable job all year. The team that they’ve put together, the coaching staff over there – they’ve done an incredible job year-after-year of getting the job done.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic at Pelicans
When: 7 p.m., Sunday, Smoothie King Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida