ORLANDO, FLA- Just six days after earning their second win of the 2022-2023 NBA season versus the Golden State Warriors, the Orlando Magic (3-9, 14th in Eastern Conference) returned to their winning ways, defeating the Dallas Mavericks (6-4, 6th in Western Conference) 94-87 for their third win of the season.
Despite 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero missing his first NBA game to a left ankle sprain, Orlando received solid contributions from their players, leading to the seven-point upset victory. In 33 minutes of play, second-year Forward Franz Wagner posted a team-high 22 points, three rebounds, and six assists on 9-17 (52.9%) shooting from the field. Likewise, Wendell Carter Jr. notched his fifth double-double of the season, with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Bol Bol added 11 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes.
Outside of Wagner, Carter Jr., and Bol, Jalen Suggs (12/7/4) and Mo Bamba (12/6/1) were the other players to record double-digit points for the Magic. As a result of Banchero’s absence, Orlando notched their lowest-scoring output since the 92-103 loss to Cleveland on October 26th. In spite of this, the Magic’s defense shut down Doncic and the Mavericks, who shot 32-85 (37.6%) from the field and 11-42 (26.2%) from three-point range.
With Banchero out, Orlando’s Second Year Head Coach Jahmal Mosley decided to give Chuma Okeke his first start of the season, which included defending Doncic, the NBA’s current scoring leader. In addition to recording eight points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 32 minutes, Okeke helped limit Doncic to just 24 points, six rebounds, and six assists on 9-29 (31.0%) shooting from the field and 2-11 (18.1%) shooting from three-point range.
“Luka was our focus coming into the game. He’s one of the best in the league, scoring, passing, all of that,” Okeke said. “We had a specific game plan of what we wanted to do, which was pressure him, not make anything easy. That was the game plan for the whole game.”
In reference to his performance, this was the first game of the season that Doncic failed to score 30 or more points in each of the Mavericks’ first ten games. Doncic managed to join elite company, however, as Doncic and Wilt Chamberlin are the only players in NBA history who have scored 30 or more points in the first nine games of a season. During the 1962-1963 season, Chamberlin notched 30+ points in 23 straight games, the longest in NBA history.
Meanwhile, Guard Spencer Dinwiddie actually lead Dallas in scoring with 29 points, and was the only other Maverick besides Doncic to notch double-digit points. Small Forward Reggie Bullock failed to score a single point in 26 minutes of play, while Center Dwight Powell only managed two points in 19 minutes.
It’s worth noting that Dallas was without offseason acquisition Christian Wood, who is dealing with a sprained left knee. Furthermore, Dallas continues to ease Guard Tim Hardaway back into action, who left Monday’s game at Brooklyn with a left hip strain. As a team, Dallas committed just six turnovers without Doncic, while Orlando had 19 turnovers. Both Dallas and Orlando struggled with fouls, committing 19 and 20, respectively.
Following the win, Orlando will return to the Amway Center to play the Phoenix Suns (8-3, 2nd in Western Conference) on Friday night at 7:00 PM ET. Meanwhile, Dallas will travel to Washington to face the Wizards (5-6, 9th in Eastern Conference) on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET.