Paolo Banchero is plotting a playoff push with the Orlando Magic, currently sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and angling to avoid an invitation to the play-in portion of the postseason.
Banchero’s hot hand gets put to the test against the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. The fourth-year forward matched his season high with 37 points in a 126-109 home victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is pushing to return from a foot injury, but he’s not expected to be back to battle fellow Duke alum Banchero.
Orlando snapped a two-game losing skid by beating the Wizards and will wrap up a four-game homestand with Dallas, which has lost 14 of its last 16.
“We’re approaching every game as a playoff-level game,” Banchero said. “Every game counts for us at this part of the season, and we’re trying to fight for position in the standings. Just coming in with that mentality and preparing the right way.”
Orlando faced Washington without injured regulars Anthony Black (right quad contusion) and Wendell Carter Jr. (left ankle soreness). They’re questionable to play Thursday. Forward Franz Wagner is out with a high left ankle sprain.
Center Goga Bitadze moved into the opening lineup for the second time this season and finished with nine points, six rebounds and three assists.
“That is the reason why Goga Bitadze is an absolute pro,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He represents exactly what we need to have happen when your number is called, and he did that.”
Magic guard Jalen Suggs returned after missing three games with a back injury and had 10 points, three rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks against the Wizards.
Orlando is taking on a Dallas team that began a six-game trip with a 117-90 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.
Brandon Williams scored 18 points to lead the Mavericks, who shot 13.6% (3 of 22) from 3-point range while Charlotte connected on 20 of its 51 (39.2%) shots from beyond the arc.
“You’ve got shooters out there that can make threes, and they shot 51 of them tonight,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “For us, the positive was we got to the free-throw line 47 times. I understand if you’re trading twos for threes, that’s not going to put you in a situation to win. But again, we didn’t shoot the three well. We created 22, made three. We have to shoot better there.”
Mavericks forward P.J. Washington returned after missing three games with an ankle injury and had 13 points in 28 minutes against Charlotte.
Flagg will miss his ninth straight game with a left midfoot sprain, but the rookie standout could return at some point during the team’s current trip. Flagg participated in a portion of the Mavericks’ shootaround on Tuesday.
“He’s ramping up,” Kidd said. “Everything is going well. (Tuesday) was to kind of get back in his routine and hopefully as we go on this road trip he can get in and play a game or two.”
The Mavericks are also monitoring the status of Klay Thompson (right adductor contusion), Naji Marshall (right finger contusion) and Marvin Bagley III (neck), who are all listed as questionable.
