By james art 
The Orlando Magic, coming off a two-game losing streak and adjusting to life without leading scorer Paolo Banchero, continue their trip to Dallas with the Western Conference champion Mavericks. The game starts at 19:30
Orlando is 3-3 after a 120-109 loss at Cleveland — the Magic’s first game without Banchero, who is expected to miss a minimum of four to six weeks with a torn right oblique muscle. Jalen Suggs scored a career-high 28 points for the shorthanded Magic, who also played without centers Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze.
Dallas, 3-2 after a Halloween night loss to the Houston Rockets, had a transformative summer in hopes of returning to the NBA Finals this year.
Key returners [2024-25 stats]
Key additions
Key departures
The Mavericks entered the offseason with the moment of their NBA Finals loss to Boston fresh in their minds. They added more star power in hopes of closing in on the likes of the Celtics, who after a 4-1 Finals victory hoisted their 18th championship pennant.
Enter four-time NBA champion and future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson—one of the greatest scorers in league history and an integral part of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty since 2010. Yes, he was brought in for his prolific scoring, but his championship pedigree is a useful boost for a team in a window of contention.
Thompson is the third option behind the backcourt tandem of Doncic and Irving, who combine for more than 50 points per game. Doncic’s efficiency is below what the league is used to seeing from him – 38.7 percent on nearly 25 shots per game and 29.2 percent on 3-pointers. But his line also includes 8.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists.
Irving’s 24.6 points (47.9 FG%, 59.4 3PT%) validate the Mavericks’ decision to trade and then extend his contract.
Other notable numbers for the Mavericks:
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