ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic spoiled the return of rookie star Cooper Flagg on Thursday night, holding off the Dallas Mavericks for a narrow 115-114 victory in a tightly contested matchup.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft, returned to Dallas’ lineup after missing eight games with a sprained left foot. The league’s leading rookie scorer finished with 18 points in 26 minutes but struggled to find his rhythm, shooting 7 of 22 from the field.
Dallas leaned on its veterans to stay within striking distance. Klay Thompson provided a spark off the bench, knocking down seven 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 24 points. Khris Middleton added 19 points and carried much of the offensive load in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 in the final period as the Mavericks attempted a late push.
Despite the effort, Dallas couldn’t complete the comeback and continued a difficult stretch, falling for the 15th time in its last 17 games.
Orlando countered with balanced scoring across the lineup. Tristan da Silva paced the Magic with 19 points, while Jalen Suggs contributed 17 points and seven assists. Paolo Banchero recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Wendell Carter Jr. chipped in 15 points to help Orlando close out the win.
Up next, the Mavericks continue their road trip with a matchup against Boston on Friday night.
