The Orlando Magic (24-23) had no problem making shots against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half on Monday night. Orlando scored 77 points and shot 65% from the field, including 55% from deep(12/22 3-PT FG).
Orlando would take a 77-61 lead at halftime, but the Mavericks (26-21) were a different team in the second half. They outscored the Magic by 23 points in the third quarter and held on to get the win 131-129 at American Airlines Center.
In that third quarter, Dallas shot 63% and held the Magic to 20% shooting. Dallas held the Magic to just 12 points in the third quarter; the fewest points Dallas allowed in a quarter this season.
“They responded,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “I thought we had a great conversation at halftime. That group played hard; I thought they got off to a good start in the third quarter. [Jaden] Hardy gave us a spark off the bench. Luka [Doncic] was Luka. I thought the guys, again, we saw some of the problems, we talked it out in the locker room at halftime and responded. It was a great second half — maybe one of our best quarters [was] to hold a team to 12 points. That lets us know that we can do it and then we can hold each other accountable for that.”
The third quarter was the Doncic and Hardaway Jr. show. Doncic scored 15 of his game-high 45 points, and Hardaway Jr. added 12 of his 36 points. The two combined for 27 of team’s 35 points in the third and combined for 81 of the team’s 131 points.
According to Hardaway Jr., he knows how to play off Doncic.
“[I’ve] been playing with Luka [Doncic] for the last five years now since 2019 when we got traded here,” he said. “I know his game. I know his game, I know where he wants me to be out there on the floor, in pick-and-roll situations, when he wants me to slip, when he wants me to pop, when to attack, when not to—just playing off his energy. [I’m] playing off his energy meaning if they’re face-guarding him, playing off him, using him as a screener in some ways, and some situations like that. Yeah, man, it’s been a process, but it doesn’t take that long if you’re confident out there, and he knows that you’re confident.”
Doncic was impressed by the play of Hardaway Jr.
“Amazing man, he played amazing,” Doncic said. “[He] didn’t force anything but was very aggressive and hitting shots. Amazing play by him. It’s very tough to guard us when he’s got it going. It’s very tough to double. Just swing it to him and let him make the shot, so it’s very hard to guard us when he’s that hot.”
Coming into this game, the Mavs have lost three of their last four games, so they needed to get this one, and they don’t win without their defense stepping up.
Notes:
Doncic added nine rebounds and 15 assists. His 45 points marked his 12th game with at least 45 points. He notched his second game this season with at least 45 points and 15 assists. No other player in the league this season has one; there have only been five other instances in NBA history of a 45-point, 15-assist game, and Doncic is the only player in NBA history to have two of such instances.
Dereck Lively II recorded 20 points (8-9 FG, 4-9 FT) and 11 rebounds.
Jaden Hardy recorded 20 points (8-9 FG, 4-5 3FG) and seven assists. His 20 points is a season-high, and his seven assists is the most assists he has had while scoring 20-or-more points.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 36 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
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