The Orlando Magic handed the Dallas Mavericks a dramatic buzzer-beater victory. Wendell Carter Jr. decided the game with a dunk 1.4 seconds before the end, spoiling the comeback of top pick Cooper Flagg.
The Orlando Magic prevailed 115-114 against the Dallas Mavericks at the last second. Wendell Carter Jr. finished a pass from Jalen Suggs with a dunk 1.4 seconds before the end, sealing the deal in a close game in Orlando. The big man had already secured the Magic’s victory against the Lakers last week with a game-winner.
Dallas had looked like the winners shortly before the end. Cooper Flagg gave the Mavericks a four-point lead with an and-one 37.3 seconds before the end. But Orlando responded: Suggs hit a three-pointer with 32.2 seconds left, before Flagg missed a jumper at the other end and Suggs found Carter under the basket for the decisive dunk.
Magic vs. Mavericks: Da Silva shines off the bench
The Magic’s top scorer was Tristan da Silva with 19 points on perfect shooting (7/7 FG, 4/4 three-pointers). The German also contributed three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Suggs had 17 points and seven assists, Paolo Banchero had 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Carter contributed 15 points. Moritz Wagner scored six points and dished out two assists.
For Dallas, Cooper Flagg returned after missing eight games with a sprained left foot and scored 18 points (7/22 FG) along with five rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 24 points and seven three-pointers off the bench, while Khris Middleton scored 19 points, including ten in the final quarter. Dallas nevertheless suffered its 15th defeat in its last 17 games.
