Franz Wagner lifts Magic over Mavericks

Franz Wagner scored 18 points, including a go-ahead driving layup with 54 seconds remaining, and the host Orlando Magic finished a successful five-game homestand with a 110-108 comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night.

Trailing 110-108 with 16.8 seconds left, Dallas came out of a timeout and worked the ball to Maxi Kleber on the left wing. Kleber's 3-pointer missed with less than two seconds to go, and Reggie Bullock's long putback caromed off the rim as time expired.

Wendell Carter Jr. totaled 14 points and 14 rebounds for another double-double, helping Orlando finish the homestand with a 3-2 record. The Magic not only are on a two-game winning streak for the second time this season, but they earned consecutive home victories for the first time since February 2021.

Chuma Okeke added a season-high 19 points off the bench for Orlando, which carried a 91-88 lead into the fourth quarter. Cole Anthony finished with 16 points and six assists, reserve center Moe Wagner added 14 points in 15 minutes, and Mo Bamba and Gary Harris added 10 points apiece.

Dallas superstar Luka Doncic (13-for-22 shooting) posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his seventh triple-double this season and fifth in January. Doncic also notched his 26th game of the season with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Mavericks, who played without Kristaps Porzingis (knee injury) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (foot), received 15 points from Jalen Brunson and 10 from Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Mavericks also got double-digit scoring off the bench from Marquese Chriss (14 points), Josh Green (11) and Bullock, who netted all 10 of his points in the second half.

Dallas took a 34-23 lead after one quarter when Brunson got Moe Wagner into the air with a pump fake and then hit a corner triple at the buzzer.

Orlando countered with a 41-25 scoring edge in the second quarter for a 64-59 halftime advantage, as the Magic made 7-of-7 free throws and 9-of-16 3-pointers while Dallas was slowed by eight turnovers.

It marked the third time this season Orlando scored 40-plus points in a quarter, two off the season high of 43 set Nov. 1 against Minnesota.

--Field Level Media/Reuters