For the first time in 2026, Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner doesn\u2019t appear on the official NBA Injury Report and is expected to start a road game for the first time since taking the floor in London, England.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wagner was back in the mix against the Atlanta Hawks in Wednesday\u2019s 130-101 loss and has yet to be truly healthy in 2026, appearing in five games. He\u2019s averaged just over 20 minutes per games, but has shot 1-for-11 from 3-point range in his last two contests. He\u2019s grabbed just two boards over his last three games and is likely to remain on a minutes restriction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Orlando has slipped to No. 9 in the East, a half-game behind the Charlotte Hornets, and would host the Miami Heat in a play-in tournament elimination game if the playoffs were to start today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dallas is in last place in the Southwest Division and has gone 5-25 since a season-long four-game win streak from Jan. 15-22. After a 123-99 loss in Milwaukee on March 31, the Mavs will play only teams with winning records for the next six games before closing the season at home against the Chicago Bulls, which makes tanking for the best lottery odds possible attainable. They finished 3-13 in March.<\/p>\n
The Magic are 23-14 at home, 9-7 against Southeast Division opposition and 24-24 against Eastern Conference foes. The Hawks are 20-17 on the road, 8-6 within the division and 24-22 against East opponents.<\/p>\n
Vitals – How to Watch Magic at Mavericks<\/p>\n
Game date, time and location: Friday, April 3, 8:40 p.m. EST, American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas<\/p>\n
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida (Magic), TEGNA Inc. (Mavs)<\/p>\n
Radio: FM 96.9 The Game\/AM 740 WYGM (Magic), KEGL (Mavs)<\/p>\n
Magic look for first sweep vs. Mavs since 1998<\/p>\n
The Orlando Magic (40-36) visit the Dallas Mavericks (24-52) hoping to pick up their first win in April, improve their playoff position and sweep the home team for the first time since 1998.<\/p>\n
The Magic edged Dallas 115-114 on March 5, surviving a 24-point night from Klay Thompson. Tristan da Silva led a balanced effort with 19 points off the bench.<\/p>\n
Dallas has won 10 of 13 games in the series. As a result, the Mavs now lead Orlando 44-30 in the all-time series dating back to 1989-90.<\/p>\n