DHJ Quick Take: Magic vs. Mavericks<\/p>\n
The Streak on the Line: Dallas enters tonight\u2019s matchup looking to halt a 13-game home losing streak. The Mavericks haven\u2019t tasted victory at American Airlines Center since Jan. 22, and with the Lakers and Luka Don\u010di\u0107 looming on Sunday, snapping the skid tonight against Orlando is a psychological necessity.<\/p>\n
Wagner\u2019s High-Stakes Return: After missing 22 games with a high ankle sprain, Franz Wagner is officially back in the fold. While he struggled with his shot in his Wednesday debut (0-of-6 from deep), his availability is the X-factor for an Orlando team currently tied with Charlotte for the 8th seed and desperate to climb back into the top six.<\/p>\n
Flagg vs. The Depth Chart: With Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II out for the season, Cooper Flagg has officially taken the reins, averaging 20.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. Tonight, he\u2019ll be the primary focus of Paolo Banchero and the Magic defense as Dallas navigates a roster decimated by injuries to Marvin Bagley III, Caleb Martin, and P.J. Washington.<\/p>\n
The Dallas Mavericks<\/a> are limping home. Coming off a 123-99 beatdown in Milwaukee<\/a> on Tuesday night \u2014 their second loss in as many days on a back-to-back that saw Daniel Gafford<\/a> exit in the second quarter with a right shoulder stinger \u2014 the Mavericks (24-52) return to American Airlines Center on Friday to host the Orlando Magic. It is the 14th consecutive home game Dallas has played without a win, their last victory at AAC coming Jan. 22 against the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg<\/a> led Dallas with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals in Milwaukee, but it was not enough to offset a shorthanded roster that was already without Kyrie Irving<\/a>, Klay Thompson<\/a>, Dereck Lively II<\/a>, Marvin Bagley III<\/a>, Caleb Martin<\/a>, P.J. Washington<\/a>, and Naji Marshall<\/a> before Gafford went down. Brandon Williams<\/a> contributed 18 points and 6 assists, and Moussa Ciss\u00e9 delivered his most impactful outing of the season with 8 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes off the bench. But the Bucks pulled away in the second quarter and never looked back, pushing their lead to 31 at its peak.<\/p>\n Flagg was candid about where Dallas must improve heading into Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of stuff, but I think just helping each other out, rotating,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cObviously, we gotta guard the three-point line better. But it starts with just guarding your man, keeping him in front so that we don\u2019t have to get into a lot of rotations.\u201d<\/p>\n The Magic, meanwhile, are running out of time to salvage their playoff seeding, and they are not waiting around at home to figure it out. Orlando (40-36) opens a two-game road trip Friday night at American Airlines Center, fleeing a home crowd that pelted them with boos after a 130-101 drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. <\/p>\n The loss dropped the Magic two games behind the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with just 6 games remaining. They are currently tied with the Charlotte Hornets for eighth place, and the playoff picture is tightening with each passing night.<\/p>\n Franz Wagner Returns, but Orlando Magic Still Searching for Answers<\/p>\n Franz Wagner, who missed 22 consecutive games with a sprained left ankle, made his return against Atlanta, logging 20 minutes and posting 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting. He missed all 6 of his 3-point attempts and was one of several Magic starters who struggled from distance, as Orlando connected on just 6-of-32 from beyond the arc as a team.<\/p>\n Despite the rough re-entry, his presence is viewed as a significant boost heading into the stretch run. Desmond Bane<\/a>, acquired via trade this season and averaging 20.4 points per game while shooting 39% from 3-point range, spoke to Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a> during Friday\u2019s shootaround about what Wagner\u2019s return means for Orlando\u2019s playoff push.<\/p>\n \u201cFranz is a huge part of what we do,\u201d Bane told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cHe brings pace, he brings energy, he brings leadership, and obviously scoring. He defends at a high level. He does just about everything you want out of a player on the basketball court. So he\u2019s going to help us tremendously down the stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n Wagner shared that same urgency in his postgame remarks Wednesday, acknowledging the weight of the moment. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously, we feel the frustration from the outside,\u201d Wagner said after the loss. \u201cTrust me when I say that we are probably more frustrated in the locker room trying to figure this out. But this is the NBA. Judgment and frustration from the fans are all part of it. We get paid way too much money to play this game, so it is on us to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Orlando will be shorthanded Friday, with Anthony Black<\/a> sidelined by a left lateral abdominal strain and Jonathan Isaac<\/a> out with a left knee sprain. The Magic are led by Paolo Banchero<\/a>, who is averaging 22.4 points per game, and will need him to carry the offensive load with their depth tested.<\/p>\n Dallas Mavericks Decimated by Injuries, Home Losing Streak Reaches 13<\/p>\n The injury situation in Dallas is as dire as it has been all season. Friday\u2019s game will once again be played without Kyrie Irving, who remains sidelined following left knee surgery, and\u00a0Dereck Lively II, who has been\u00a0sidelined since undergoing right foot surgery.<\/p>\n The frontcourt situation has grown even more precarious, with Marvin Bagley III, Caleb Martin, and P.J. Washington all listed as doubtful. Bagley is dealing with a left shoulder impingement, Martin is managing a right plantar fascia strain, and Washington is battling an illness. Gafford, who absorbed the right shoulder stinger in Milwaukee, does not appear on the injury report and is expected to be available.<\/p>\n Bane acknowledged during Friday\u2019s shootaround that the Mavericks present a legitimate challenge regardless of their record.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they\u2019ve got good size across the board,\u201d Bane told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cThey play fast. They\u2019ve got a lot of guys that can penetrate and touch the paint. You\u2019ve got to be locked into the game plan tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Bagley has been a bright spot since arriving in the Anthony Davis<\/a> trade in February, posting a season-best 26 points and 9 rebounds at Portland last Friday before the shoulder injury took him out of the lineup. <\/p>\n Jason Kidd<\/a> has credited the 27-year-old with finally playing within himself after years of expectation tied to being the No. 2 overall pick.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes we all want to be someone else, and it just doesn\u2019t work out,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThe sooner you can recognize who you are, you can have success, which he was having this year even before he got to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Brandon Williams: \u2018It\u2019s an Opportunity Every Time\u2019<\/p>\n Brandon Williams, who has emerged as one of Dallas\u2019 primary ball-handlers alongside Ryan Nembhard<\/a> this season, addressed the team\u2019s mindset at practice ahead of Friday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n \u201cNot really thinking about a losing streak at all,\u201d Williams said. \u201cJust coming out here and trying to put our best foot forward. It\u2019s an opportunity every time we step on the floor, and all of us know that. So we just come out here and compete.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams, averaging 12.9 points and 3.8 assists in 22.1 minutes per game, has been vocal in his belief that the chemistry built through an arduous season will pay dividends going forward. He pointed to the team\u2019s ability to stay connected despite what felt like multiple roster iterations throughout the year.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of felt like we had three different teams in one season,\u201d Williams said. \u201cBut for the guys who stayed, it\u2019s been about keeping everyone together, helping new guys feel at home, and just building that connection.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Sides Agree: Cooper Flagg Is the Real Deal<\/p>\n One player who has not needed any help feeling at home is Flagg, who continues to draw praise from across the league. Williams did not hesitate when asked about Flagg\u2019s standing in the Rookie of the Year race.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a no-brainer,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWhat he\u2019s doing at 19 \u2014 people don\u2019t realize he\u2019s still a teenager because of how he carries himself and how mature he is. You don\u2019t see that. His play speaks for itself. Even with our record being what it is, he comes out every night and competes. That says a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Bane, speaking from the opposing side, echoed the sentiment.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s got a great motor \u2014 great feel for the game,\u201d Bane told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cThe way he plays on both ends of the floor, his versatility \u2014 he\u2019s been put in all types of different positions on the court this year. So I think the sky\u2019s the limit for a kid like that.\u201d<\/p>\n