Cooper Flagg returns, but Mavericks fall to Magic 115-114

Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. grabbed an offensive rebound, but before he could attempt a shot, Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg blocked it.

Flagg, who returned after missing eight games with a left midfoot sprain, converted an and-one on the other end to give the Mavericks a two-possession lead with 37.3 seconds remaining.

But Magic guard Jalen Suggs answered with a 3-pointer, followed by a Carter dunk on the next possession to lift Orlando to a 115-114 win over Dallas.

Flagg missed a potential go-ahead shot in the final minute. The Mavericks then turned the ball over on their final possession when they threw the ball out of bounds without getting a shot off.

Flagg finished with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and four blocks in the loss. The Mavericks have now dropped five straight games.

With less than three minutes remaining, Mavericks guard Klay Thompson hit a 3-pointer off a screen to tie the game at 105.

Khris Middleton followed with a contested midrange jumper to give Dallas a 107-105 lead. On the Mavericks’ next possession, Middleton hit another midrange shot to put Dallas ahead 111-110, but Orlando’s late baskets proved decisive.

Thompson scored 24 points and made seven 3-pointers. The Mavericks hit 14 from beyond the arc after making just three in their previous game. Middleton added 19 points and a team-high seven assists.