NBA roundup: Mavs defeat Magic behind Doncic's dominance
Luka Doncic scored 14 of his 32 points in the first quarter, helping the Dallas Mavericks start strong and secure a 108-85 win against the injury-plagued Orlando Magic on Sunday.
The Mavericks, who lost to Houston in their last game, took charge early against an Orlando team missing 2023 Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero due to an oblique injury.
Dallas had their best first quarter of the season, leading 30-22 after one period and never looking back.
Franz Wagner was the top scorer for the Magic with 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists, but Orlando struggled with their shooting, hitting only eight of 41 three-point attempts and getting outscored 52-36 in the paint.
Doncic also contributed nine rebounds and seven assists, while Daniel Gafford added 18 points and Kyrie Irving scored 17 for Dallas, who led by as much as 33 points.
"Today was really fun," Doncic said. "We were defending well, rebounding, and playing fast. That’s enjoyable for me."
Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion with Golden State who joined Dallas this season, had a quiet game with nine points on four-of-10 shooting, making just one of five three-point attempts.
However, Mavs coach Jason Kidd praised Thompson's overall contribution beyond scoring.
"I thought he played a great game," Kidd said. "While we look to him for scoring, his playmaking and energy were impressive. He was active on both ends."
The Detroit Pistons rebounded from a 30-point loss to the New York Knicks on Friday, winning their second game of the season 106-92 against 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.
In New Orleans, Jalen Johnson from Atlanta scored 29 points, while Trae Young contributed 23 points, four rebounds, 12 assists, and a steal. The Hawks defeated the injury-hit Pelicans 126-111, marking New Orleans' first home loss of the season.
Zion Williamson, the Pelicans' star player, was out due to a tight right hamstring. He was joined on the sidelines by CJ McCollum, who has a right adductor strain, and Herbert Jones, who is dealing with a shoulder injury.
Brandon Ingram tried to step up, scoring 32 points, but it wasn't enough against Atlanta's strong performance. The Hawks had six players scoring in double digits and dominated the paint, outscoring the Pelicans 66-32.
Larry Nance from Atlanta, who scored 14 points off the bench against his old team, praised Young's "impressive" play. "That was two-way Trae," Nance said. "He was making steals, playing defense, and diving for loose balls. He controlled the game in the second half."
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