Magic use late surge to beat Mavericks 95-87
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - D.J. Augustin scored 18 points, Serge Ibaka added 15 points and nine rebounds and the Orlando Magic beat the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 95-87 on Saturday night.
In a game that was close throughout, the Magic pulled away late in the fourth quarter. Evan Fournier came through with a 3-pointer and Nikola Vucevic hit two free throws with 1:38 remaining to give Orlando a commanding lead that would prove too much for Dallas to overcome.
The game was tied eight times and the lead changed teams six times on the night.
The Mavericks, who were playing without Dirk Nowitzki, Devin Harris and Deron Williams, played efficient at times and was able to hold brief leads.
Rookie Jonathan Gibson, who signed as a free agent with Dallas on Friday, led the Mavericks with 26 points off the bench. Gibson converted 8 of 16 from the field and 5 of 9 from 3-point range on the night.
Dallas (2-10) has dropped five straight, and Orlando (6-7) has won two straight and three of its last four.
TIP-INS
Mavericks: Both Nowitzki and Williams were held out of Saturday night's lineup due to nagging injuries. ...Barnes, who was third option at best with Golden State, is averaging a career-high 22.2 points per game this season.
Magic: Coming into Saturday night's game, Orlando was allowing 100.9 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. The Magic had held opponents to under 100 points five times, under 90 four times, which includes Wednesday's season-low of 82 points against the New Orleans Pelicans.
UP NEXT:
Mavericks: Dallas' road trip continues with San Antonio as the next stop on Monday night at AT&T Center.
Magic: Orlando hits the road to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at BMO Harris Bradley Center.