Magic Musings: Orlando misses chances against Mavericks

Published Nov. 16, 2013 9:32 p.m. ET

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- For three quarters, the Dallas Mavericks didn't look like the team playing the second game of a back-to-back and starting four players 32 or older.

While time caught up with them in the fourth quarter, the Orlando Magic didn't.

Despite shooting better than 50 percent from the floor, the Magic lost 108-100. Part of the problem was that the Mavericks made 56.3 percent of their shots through the first three periods to take an 87-80 lead into the final 12 minutes.

The Mavericks, who dropped a 110-104 decision Friday night at Miami, were far more efficient at taking care of the basketball than the Magic. Jose Calderon handed out nine assists with no turnovers in 31 minutes.

Arron Afflalo, who scored a career-high 36 points in the Magic's win Wednesday night over the Milwaukee Bucks, had only six points at halftime on 2-of-7 shooting. Although he wound up leading the Magic with 25 points, he missed his only two 3-point attempts. The bulk of his scoring came from the free-throw line, where he went 13 of 14.

The Magic have now gone 0-8 at home against the Mavericks since a win over them in March 2006.

The Magic, who never led at all during the last three quarters, could have pulled even during a three-minute stretch of the final period when the Mavericks went scoreless. But they managed only four points themselves, with rookie Victor Oladipo turning the ball over three times.

Dirk Nowitzki, who moved past Jerry West earlier in the week on the NBA's all-time scoring list, went 4 of 6 from 3-point range. The last of those came with 3:11 to go and gave the Mavs a 100-91 lead. He finished with 18 points and was one of six Dallas players in double figures.

Oladipo had almost as many turnovers by himself (nine) as the Mavericks overall (10).

Wednesday night vs. Miami, 7 p.m. (FOX Sports Florida).

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.