{"id":218951,"date":"2026-04-04T19:56:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T19:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/218951\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T19:56:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T19:56:06","slug":"orlando-magic-find-offensive-spark-in-win-at-mavericks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/218951\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic find offensive spark in win at Mavericks"},"content":{"rendered":"

During Friday\u2019s game against the Mavericks<\/a> at American Airlines Center<\/a>, the Magic<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

All of those offensive marks were needed for Orlando<\/a> to leave Dallas<\/a> on top 138-127 in a high-scoring affair that saw Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg<\/a> post 51 points, 24 of which were recorded in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

The Mavs notched 30-plus points in three of the four frames, finished 46% from the floor and almost matched Orlando\u2019s points in the paint total with 48 by the end of the night.<\/p>\n

While their defensive effort came in spurts, the Magic performed well enough on offense to capture a win that marked the franchise\u2019s first on the road at Dallas since 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stayed consistent on the offensive end,\u201d said Wendell Carter Jr.<\/a>, who led the way with a season-high 28 points. \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cCooper did a really good job tonight,\u201d he added. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not only did the Montverde Academy grad do a \u201creally good job,\u201d but he also pieced together a historic performance.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s another feather in his cap as Flagg makes a strong push for the league\u2019s rookie of the year award.<\/p>\n

\u201cCooper\u2019s one of those guys, he\u2019s going to be in this league for a long time,\u201d Carter, a fellow Duke product, said. \u201cTonight showed how talented he is as a player. The sky\u2019s the limit for that kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Orlando, fifth-year forward Franz Wagner<\/a> continued to recapture his flow on the court in just his second game back from an extended rehab of a left high ankle sprain.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel all right,\u201d Wagner said. \u201cGotta manage the minutes and stuff like that. I think that\u2019s just part of it. I felt that I definitely felt better than last game, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Magic coach Jamahl Mosley<\/a> about Wagner: \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

And it wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

The Magic improved to 9-1 when scoring 130-or-more points and 14-4 while totaling 30-plus assists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of this team,\u201d Carter said. \u201cI think from top to bottom, we\u2019ve got guys who can go get it any night. So when we play free, open (and) as one unit, I think we\u2019re one of the most dangerous teams in the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can continue to do that for these last couple of games, be in a good spot going into the playoffs, it\u2019ll give us a really good chance,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Getting to the playoffs, however, is still no guarantee for the Magic.<\/p>\n

No. 9 Orlando (41-36) entered Saturday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Seeds 7-10 in each conference compete in the Play-In for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially offensively, I think we made some good steps,\u201d Wagner said about Friday\u2019s showing. \u201cNow it\u2019s just a matter of consistency and just keep working on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Osceola advances in G League playoffs<\/p>\n

The Osceola Magic advanced to their second-straight Eastern Conference Finals after a 123-116 win over the Motor City Cruise on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Orlando\u2019s 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\u2019s Prime Video.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s big time,\u201d Mosley said about Osceola advancing. \u201cThey\u2019ve done an unbelievable job all year. The team that they\u2019ve put together, the coaching staff over there \u2013 they\u2019ve done an incredible job year-after-year of getting the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Up next \u2026<\/p>\n

Magic at Pelicans<\/p>\n

When:\u00a07 p.m., Sunday, Smoothie King Center<\/p>\n

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