Luka Doncic scores 45 points as Mavs rally past Magic

Field Level Media|published: Mon 29th January, 23:37 2024

Jan 29, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) attempts to knock the ball away from Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (21) during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. credits: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Luka Doncic recorded game-highs of 45 points and 15 assists to go with nine rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 13 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Mavericks rallied from down 16 points to fend off the visiting Orlando Magic, 131-129, on Monday.

Hardaway helped key a 24-7 run in the third quarter that culminated in the second of two made 3-pointers in 49 seconds. The sequence gave Dallas its first lead since the early moments of the first period, and set the stage for a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

There were nine lead changes over the final 7:35, including another two on Hardaway 3-pointers. He shot 11-of-17 from the floor overall and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Dallas took the lead for good with 2:03 remaining when Wendell Carter Jr. was whistled for a flagrant I foul that sent Dereck Lively II to the free-throw line for four attempts. He made only two, but Hardaway drew another foul and made another pair of foul shots on the ensuing possession.

Lively finished with 20 points, the final two of which came on an emphatic dunk off of a Doncic lob that pushed the Mavericks lead to six points with 36 seconds remaining.

Orlando pulled within one twice down the stretch, but could not fully bridge the gap. Franz Wagner had a look at a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer when he rebounded Paolo Banchero's intentionally missed free throw, but the deep attempt rimmed off.

Banchero led the Magic with 36 points and nine rebounds. He also dished seven assists and made two steals.

Anthony Black made his first six field-goal attempts and finished the night 7-of-9 from the floor for 20 points off the bench. Black's 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range paced Orlando to an 18-of-38 performance as a team.

Moritz Wagner added 16 points off the bench, and Cole Anthony produced another 11 points with a team-high nine assists in a reserve role. Franz Wagner scored 21 points in the loss.

Jaden Hardy scored 20 points and added seven assists off the bench for Dallas.

—Field Level Media

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