Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. combined for 81 POINTS in the Mavericks' win over the Magic! Doncic: 45 PTS, 15 AST, 9 REB Hardaway Jr.: 36 PTS, 5 3PM, 8 REB
A battle between two play-in teams was must-see TV, as Luka Doncic had another magical performance, helping lead the Dallas Mavericks past the Orlando Magic 131-129 at American Airlines Center.
2 games after a historic 73-point game, Luka Doncic had another jaw-dropping performance, finishing with 45 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists on 52% shooting. Doncic has been having an unbelievable season, averaging 34.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 9.4 assists, showcasing why he is an All-Star starter. Tim Hardaway Jr. also had a big night, ending with 36 points and 8 rebounds on 5 made 3 pointers. Rookie Derrick Lively had a 20-point, 11 rebound double-double and second-year guard Jaden Hardy scored 20 points off the bench.
Paolo Banchero led the way for Orlando, finishing with 36 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists while hitting 4 three pointers. Franz Wagner had a great game as well, scoring 21 points while adding 5 rebounds and 6 assists on 50% shooting. Rookie Anthony Black played 30 minutes off the bench and he scored 20 points.
This win improves the Mavs record to 26-21 on the season, placing them 7th in the Western Conference and 1 game behind the 6th seeded Phoenix Suns. Dallas is 4-6 in their last 10 games, but maybe this win will give them a jumpstart to have another winning streak. Their next contest will be on the road on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For Orlando, this loss drops them to 24-23 on the year, which makes them the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. After a red-hot start, the Magic are now 3-7 over their last 10 games. They are still well in the playoff hunt, as they are only 3 games behind the 6th seeded Indiana Pacers. Their next matchup will be on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Luka Doncic and Tim Hardaway Jr. combined for 81 POINTS in the Mavericks' win over the Magic! Doncic: 45 PTS, 15 AST, 9 REB Hardaway Jr.: 36 PTS, 5 3PM, 8 REB