Paolo Banchero looks to continue his scoring spree on Thursday when the Orlando Magic host the Dallas Mavericks in the opener of a three-game homestand.
Banchero scored 32 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists in the Magic’s 111-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The former top overall pick became the fourth player in franchise history to score at least 30 points in four consecutive games, and first since Dwight Howard in 2011.
“(Banchero is) trying to find the right ways to lead this team to wins,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Whatever it takes in these moments.”
The Magic (35-38) have won three in a row for the first time since capturing six straight victories from Nov. 21-Dec. 1. They reside a half-game behind the Atlanta Hawks for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Franz Wagner collected 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists on Tuesday for Orlando.
Second-year pro Anthony Black came off the bench to contribute 20 points, marking the fourth time in five games that he has reached double digits. Black had 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the Magic’s 118-106 victory over former Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
Caleb Houstan sank four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points off the bench on Tuesday.
“It’s just a huge boost,” Banchero said of the play of the reserves. “We knew this was not going to be an easy game despite their record and what they’ve done this season. It was just a huge team effort to come here after a big win at home last night and get this win on a back-to-back.”
While Orlando has pieced together wins recently, Dallas (35-38) is heading in the other direction with losses in 10 of its last 13 games to find itself battling the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
The Mavericks dropped a 128-113 decision to the New York Knicks on Tuesday despite Naji Marshall erupting for a career-high 38 points. Marshall made 13 of 15 shots in the first half and finished 17 of 25 from the floor.
“He was great,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd of Marshall. “We got off to a slow start in the third quarter and that’s when it got away from us. But Naji was great. He kept us in that first half. He was playing at a high level.”
Marshall is 34-for-52 from the field over his last three games.
“Just staying aggressive and taking what the defense gives me,” Marshall said, per the Dallas Morning News.
The sputtering Mavericks were short-handed on Tuesday, with in-season trade acquisition Anthony Davis unavailable to play after returning from an adductor strain on the previous night versus the Brooklyn Nets. P.J. Washington also sat out after sustaining a sprained left ankle on Monday.
Davis is listed as questionable for Thursday’s contest. Washington has been ruled out.
The Mavericks recorded a 108-85 victory over the Magic on Nov. 3 in Dallas. The Mavericks were led by Doncic (32 points, nine rebounds, seven assists), while Orlando played without Banchero (torn right oblique).
–Field Level Media
