Magic Musings: Elfrid Payton's triple-double helps Orlando nearly flip script on Mavericks
Down to 10 healthy players and down 22 points early in the third quarter on the second game of a road back-to-back, the Orlando Magic could have easily packed it in Wednesday night against the Dallas Mavericks.
But with Elfrid Payton recording the first triple-double of his NBA career and Maurice Harkless giving them a boost in only his second start all season, the Magic got to within a point of the lead with a minute to go before losing 107-102.
Payton finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He hit a 3-point field goal and two free throws down the stretch to make it a 101-100 game.
The Magic still had a chance to force overtime after Devin Harris was able to only split two foul shots for the Mavs with 14.6 seconds to go. But Victor Oladipo was unable to get a good look from 3-point range and forced up a shot going to his left which didn't go down.
Forwards Tobias Harris and Dewayne Dedmon were out because of left ankle injuries sustained Tuesday night in a 107-94 loss at Houston. Harkless started in Harris' absence and had a season-high 18 points as well as four of the Magic's 12 steals.
The combination of Harkless, Channing Frye, Nikola Vucevic, Oladipo and Payton represented the 18th different starting lineup for the Magic this season.
Oladipo was only 2 of 8 in the first half and ended up missing all six of his 3-points, although he led the Magic in scoring with 19 points. Vucevic spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench as it was a lineup which included seldom-used Kyle O'Quinn that threw a scare into the Mavs, who are trying to move up in the Western Conference playoff race.
The loss was the 12th in a row for the Magic on the road. Their next five games are at home.
THE TURNING POINT
The Mavs led wire to wire after scoring the game's first 12 points, a run which included 3-pointers from Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons.
THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
The 37-year-old Nowitzki led all scorers with 25 points and went 5 of 6 from 3-point range.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Mavs hit 27 of their 39 field-goal attempts in the first half, which ended with them ahead 65-48, but were only 12 of 41 over the last two quarters.
WHAT'S NEXT
Friday night vs. Portland, 7 p.m.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
