Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks: Preview, Picks & Predictions
DALLAS — The Orlando Magic will visit the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night for a non-conference fixture that is expected to be very lively.
Both teams have impressed in patches this season and they are set to test one another at both ends of the court when this game tips off at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Orlando Magic vs. Dallas Mavericks: Preview
Dallas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EST
LINE: Mavericks -7.5; over/under is 217.5
Watch: Fox Sports Southwest – Dallas, Fox Sports Florida
Listen: KESN/KFLC/WYGM 96.9FM / 740AM
After its thrilling 124-117 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, Dallas (4-4) heads into this game on a two-game winning streak and starts as a 7.5 point favorite to beat Orlando.
The Magic (6-3) are coming off a 132-90 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night, which snapped a two-game winning streak against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the defeat to the Rockets, Nikola Vucevic had a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic. Cole Anthony added 15 points, as five players scored in double figures for Orlando.
Meanwhile, for Dallas, Luka Doncic poured in 38 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, and five steals in the overtime win over the Nuggets.
Highlighted Players To Watch
Doncic leads the team this season with 27.6 points on 46.5% shooting from the field, as well as 7.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game.
Vucevic is averaging 21.1 points per game on 49.7% shooting, with 10.7 rebounds for the Magic.
Dallas finished 43-32 overall with a 20-18 record at home during the 2019-20 season. The Mavericks averaged 14.6 points off of turnovers, 14.5 second chance points and 38.4 bench points last season.
Orlando finished 33-40 overall with a 15-23 record on the road a season ago. The Magic allowed opponents to score 108.3 points per game and shoot 46.5% from the field last season.
INJURIES:
Mavericks: Trey Burke: day to day (illness), Kristaps Porzingis: out (knee).
Magic: Chuma Okeke: out (knee), Markelle Fultz: out for season (knee), Evan Fournier: day to day (back spasms), Michael Carter-Williams: out (foot), Al-Farouq Aminu: out (knee), Jonathan Isaac: out for season (knee), Aaron Gordon: out (left hamstring).
