The Mavericks got off to a strong start and picked up a big win over the Magic.

Released: 04/11/2024 – 05:06Changed: 04/11/2024 – 05:04

2 min

The Mavs, who failed to make a comeback against Houston on Thursday, took early control of an Orlando team that missed 2023 Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero with an oblique injury.

Dallas had its highest-scoring first period of the season, taking a 30–22 lead after one quarter and never trailing after that.

Franz Wagner led the Magic with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, but Orlando made just eight of 41 3-point attempts and was outscored 52-36 in the paint.

Doncic added nine rebounds and seven assists, Daniel Gafford scored 18 points and star guard Kyrie Irving scored 17 points for Dallas, which led by as many as 33 points.

“Today was a lot of fun,” Doncic said. “We protected everyone, defended, rebounded, played at a high tempo. So it’s funny to me.”

Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with Golden State who signed with Dallas as a free agent this season, had a quiet night, scoring nine points on 4-of-10 shooting and making just one of his five 3-point attempts.

But Mavs coach Jason Kidd said he was impressed not only by Thompson’s performance but by Thompson’s efficiency.

“I thought he played a great game,” Kidd said. “I know we look at him for scoring and shooting 3-pointers, but I thought his play, his energy was high. He moved on both ends at a very high level.”

The Detroit Pistons bounced back from a 30-point loss to the New York Knicks on Friday with their second win of the season, 106-92, over the Nets in Brooklyn.

Star guard Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, and for the first time this season, every Pistons starter scored in double figures.

Tobias Harris scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting with six assists and five rebounds, and Malik Beasley added 18 points off the bench for Detroit, which trailed by five at halftime but took the lead for good on Harris’ shot with 3:08 left. . in the third quarter.

“Two-Way Tray”

In New Orleans, Atlanta’s Jalen Johnson scored 29 points and Trae Young added 23 points, four rebounds, 12 assists and a steal as the Hawks handed the injury-plagued Pelicans their first home loss of the season, 126-111. .

New Orleans star big man Zion Williamson, who averages 21.4 points, eight rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, was ruled out with a right hamstring strain.

He joined star guard C.J. McCollum and forward Herbert Jones on the sideline as McCollum nursed a right adductor strain and Jones a shoulder injury.

Forward Brandon Ingram did his best to fill the void, scoring 32 points, but it wasn’t enough against Atlanta’s balanced attack, which had six players score in double figures and outshot the Pels 66-32 in the game. dye.

Atlanta’s Larry Nance, who scored 14 points off the bench against his former team, said the win started with Young’s “impressive” performance.

“It was two-way traffic, Tray,” Nancy said. “My man was intercepting, playing defense, diving on the floor. He dictated the game the entire second half.”

© 2024 AFP