Dallas Mavericks ride fiery opening to big NBA win over Orlando Magic
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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (right) making a three pointer against the Orlando Magic on Nov 3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES – It was clear Luka Doncic was having “fun” after he scored 14 of his 32 points in the first quarter, as the Dallas Mavericks got off to a hot start en route to a 108-85 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory over the Orlando Magic on Nov 3.
The Mavs took control early against an Orlando side missing 2023 Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero because of an oblique injury, and notched their highest-scoring first period of the season to take a 30-22 lead after one quarter and never trailed thereafter.
“Today was real fun. We were guarding everybody, defending, rebounding, playing with a lot of pace. So that’s fun for me,” said Doncic, who added nine rebounds and seven assists.
Daniel Gafford scored 18 points and star guard Kyrie Irving chipped in 17 for Dallas, who led by as many as 33 points at the American Airlines Centre.
Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors who joined Dallas as a free agent this season, had a quiet night with nine points on four-of-10 shooting, connecting on just one of his five three-point attempts.
However, Mavs coach Jason Kidd said he was impressed with Thompson’s impact apart from scoring, saying: “I thought he played a great game.
“I know we look at him for scoring and shooting threes, but I thought his playmaking, his energy was high. He was moving on both ends at a very high level.”
Franz Wagner led the Magic with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, but Orlando made just eight of 41 three-point attempts and were outscored 52-36 in the paint.
At the Barclays Centre, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Brooklyn Nets 106-92 to claim their second victory of the season. Star guard Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists and, for the first time this season, each Pistons starter scored in double figures.
Tobias Harris scored 18 points on eight-of 13 shooting with six assists and five rebounds and Malik Beasley added 18 points off the bench for Detroit, who trailed by five at half-time but took the lead for good on Harris’ jump shot with 3:08 left in the third quarter.
Cameron Johnson scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, while Cam Thomas added 17 and was Brooklyn’s only other double-figure scorer as the Nets shot 45.1 per cent.
Elsewhere, Jalen Johnson matched a career high by scoring 29 points and Trae Young had a double-double as the visiting Atlanta Hawks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 126-111.
Young added 23 points, four rebounds, 12 assists and a steal as the Hawks handed the Pelicans their first home defeat this season.
Atlanta’s Larry Nance, who scored 14 points off the bench against his former team, said the win at Smoothie King Centre started with an “impressive” performance from Young.
“That was two-way Trae. My man was getting steals, playing defence, diving on the floor. He dictated the game the entire second half,” he said.
Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, while Jordan Hawkins chipped in 19 for the Pelicans, who played without star forward Zion Williamson (hamstring injury). AFP, REUTERS
