Magic trim Mavericks, win 9th in last 13 games

Terrence Ross scored 22 points in his return from a one-game absence due to a sore left Achilles as the host Orlando Magic posted a 111-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. Orlando's Nikola Vucevic recorded his team-high 48th double-double of the season after collecting 20 points and 13 rebounds. Aaron Gordon chipped in with 18 points, and Ross went 6-for-11 from 3-point range for the Magic, who have won nine of their last 13 games and avenged a lopsided 101-76 setback at Dallas on Dec. 10.

Rookie Luka Doncic scored 24 points for the Mavericks, who have lost nine of their last 10 overall and 27 of 33 on the road this season. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 15 points, moved past John Stockton for third place all-time in games played (1,505) in NBA history. The 40-year-old trails only Robert Parrish (1,611) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,560).

The Mavericks scored 10 of the first 12 points of the third quarter to chip into their 62-47 halftime deficit, with Jalen Brunson beginning the run with a driving layup and capping the surge with a 3-pointer. Dallas closed to within six at 69-63 following Doncic's jumper, but D.J. Augustin benefited from a screen to sink a 3-point attempt before adding a jumper to regain Orlando's double-digit advantage.

The Magic closed the quarter on an 18-10 run and overcame a few anxious moments in the game's final minute before walking away with the win. Ross didn't miss a beat after sitting out Tuesday's 114-106 loss to Philadelphia, as he drained a pair of 3-pointers and Jerian Grant capped Orlando's 14-4 surge with one of his own to give the Magic a 29-16 lead.

Nowitzki received a loud response from the crowd at Amway Center upon entering the game late in the first quarter. He drilled a short jumper to bring the Mavericks within eight at 39-31 with 7:42 remaining in the second. Ross, however, changed the complexion of the contest with two more 3-pointers in a 2 1/2-minute stretch as the Magic built a 49-33 advantage.

--Field Level Media

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