Behind Dončić’s 44-point outburst, Mavericks pull away in fourth, outlast Orlando Magic
Andre Johnson 
FINISHED STRONG
There would be no late collapse this time by the Mavericks.
Less than 24 hours after Dallas had squandered a 16-point fourth quarter lead in an overtime loss to Oklahoma City, the Mavericks regrouped and finished strong in outlasting the Orlando Magic, 114-105, Sunday night at the American Airlines Center.
On the strength of a key 23-8 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters, the Mavericks witnessed four players score in double figures as Dallas handed the visiting Magic its sixth loss through its first seven outings.
Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić was his usual reliable self for a Dallas team that played its third game in four days.
Showing virtually no signs of fatigue after Saturday’s brutal outing, the 6-foot-7 Slovenian scored 30 of his season-high 44 points in the first half and Mavs reserve Tim Hardaway continued his remarkable play of late with 21 points on 5 of 15 shooting in 27-plus minutes as Dallas (3-3) reached the .500 mark for the third time this season.
Sunday’s win was the Mavericks’ first of a five-game homestand and essentially erased the memory of Saturday’s setback against the upstart Thunder.
Along his 44 points on 17 of 26 field goals, Dončić managed five rebounds and three assists in 36-plus minutes.
Dorian Finney-Smith finished with 13 points in 29-plus minutes and Spencer Dinwiddie added 12 points on 5 of 13 in 38-plus minutes for the Mavs, who return to action Wednesday against the visiting Utah Jazz.
Orlando, meanwhile, had four starters to score in double figures, led by Paolo Banchero’s 18 points on 6 of 20 field goals in 32-plus minutes. Bol Bol finished with 16 points, Wendell Carter Jr. added 15 points, and Franz Wagner 11 points in 36-plus minutes for the Magic, whose deficit got no closer than four midday the fourth quarter.
R.J. Hampton and Kevon Harris were the players off the bench to score in double figures for Orlando, which shot 45.7 percent for the game. — Andre Johnson
In another development:
During halftime of Sunday night’s game, the Mavericks paid homage to long-time executive Keith Grant, who served as assistant general manager for the franchise from 1998 until his retirement.
Grant in June retired after 42 years of service to the organization. His tenure with the Mavericks began in 1980 prior to the team’s inaugural season.
“Keith Grant an original Dallas Maverick and has been the backbone and heart of our organization for 42 years,” Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. “He is an absolute legend, and we (were) excited to honor him on Sunday.”
In 1984, Grant moved to the scouting department, and prior to the 1986-87 season, he was promoted to advance pro scout, where he was integral to the Mavericks’ 55-27 record and the team’s first-ever Midwest Division title.
Then from 1990 to 1994, Grant served as the club’s director of scouting before being elevated Director of Player Personnel that same year. Consequently, he would become Vice-President of Basketball Operations two years later.
While assuming the role as the Mavs’ assistant general manager, Grant witnessed the team make four Western Conference Finals appearances (2003, 2006, 2011, 2022) and two NBA Finals appearances in 2006 and 2011, the latter of which resulted in the franchise’s first-ever world championship. — From Our Press Services
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