Doncic gets mad at Moritz Wagner while Mavs stay hot with convincing W over Magic / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix

Luka Doncic had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points playing his first game in 15 days, helping the host Dallas Mavericks (24-19) to a 108-92 (32-23, 23-20, 30-25, 23-24) victory over the Orlando Magic (8-36) on Saturday night.

Player of the Game EFF 25 Jalen Brunson Points 19 Accuracy 8-11 Rebounds 5 Assists 3

Porzingis, who grabbed seven rebounds and scored all but seven of his points in the first quarter, cleared the league's health and safety protocol after missing the previous seven games.

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd also cleared protocol following a four-game absence as he watched the Mavericks win for the ninth time in 11 games.

Doncic, who went 7-for-19 from the field and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line, scored 13 first-half points as the Mavericks built a 55-43 lead. Jalen Brunson (8-for-11 shooting) also had a strong outing with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 17 points off the bench, making three of Dallas' 12 3-pointers. The Mavericks led by as many as 23 points during a chippy fourth quarter as Orlando's Moe Wagner and Doncic were assessed technical fouls with 8:59 remaining.

The Slovenian wunderkind got mad at Moritz Wagner for shouting into his face ("And one!"). Then Luka pushed the German away and started to yell at him, using curse words.

Orlando, which was without center Wendell Carter Jr. (hamstring) for the fifth straight game, was led by Robin Lopez, Jalen Suggs, and Wagner, who scored 16 points apiece. Cole Anthony was the only other Magic player in double figures with 12 points.

Magic center Mo Bamba returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a sprained right toe, posting six points and six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

The Mavericks converted 32-of-38 free throws -- including a 9-for-12 effort by Porzingis -- compared with 11 of 16 for Orlando, which has lost 10 consecutive games in Dallas dating to 2011.

Orlando also committed 17 total turnovers that resulted in 21 Dallas points.

Dallas completed a back-to-back sweep that included Friday's 27-point victory at Memphis.

The Mavericks led Orlando 32-23 when Porzingis pump-faked a pair of Magic defenders and hit a corner three as time expired in the first quarter.

Mavericks: Luka Doncic 23 (9 REB), Jalen Brunson 19 (5 REB), Kristaps Porzingis 19 (7 REB), Tim Hardaway 17.

Magic: Robin Lopez 16, Jalen Suggs 16, Moritz Wagner 16 (4 REB), Cole Anthony 12.

Luka Doncic's performance

Kristaps Porzingis' performance

Full game highlights

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