ORLANDO, Fla. — Before beating the Mavericks, 94-87, on Wednesday night, Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley gave his young defenders a detailed game plan:
“Do your work early,” he told his team.
When Luka Doncic worked a defensive switch, Mosley coached, pick him up early.
That way, as Doncic backs down in the paint with the flashy force he’s shown through the first three weeks of this NBA season, the Magic would already have a crowd around him, rather than letting the 23-year-old superstar barrel down on single-coverage with a double-team rotation too late to throw him off balance.
Mission accomplished.
Dallas’ four-game winning streak ended Wednesday with a stagnant second half against the rebuilding Magic.
Doncic endured his least efficient offensive outing yet — 24 points on 9-of-28 shooting, including 2 of 11 from 3 — while the injury absence of sixth-man center Christian Wood (left knee sprain) sapped the Mavericks’ offensive diversity.
In a game that tipped 90 minutes early because of Tropical Storm Nicole, Dallas slogged through its ninth clutch-time situation in their first 10 games — second only to Orlando — and Doncic’s typical prowess in late, close games didn’t translate against his former go-to assistant Mosley.
Doncic’s streak of scoring at least 30 points ended at nine games, the NBA’s longest to start a season since Wilt Chamberlain’s record 23 in 1962-63.
Most who’ve watched the Mavericks this season have marveled at Doncic’s ability to thrive in the post, improve his finishing touch around the rim and dissect every defensive scheme — traditional or not — to position himself for efficient buckets or teammates for open assists.
Mosley, however, made sure his former star pupil wasn’t so flashy Wednesday.
Mosley became Doncic’s lead Mavericks assistant for three seasons after the 2018 draft, often holding solo workouts during the summer before his rookie year and building a rapport with common connections and humor off the court.
Before Mosley left for the Orlando job in 2021, did he expect this kind of Year 5 leap from Doncic, already a multi-time first-team All-NBA All-Star?
“The answer is yes, that you see this coming,” Mosley said. “He is a special talent, and from Day 1 when he walked in, when you’re doing individual work with him, when he’s playing one-on-one in the gym, by himself ... you saw that.”
But Mosley’s advice for his rebuilding squad — playing without Rookie of the Year favorite Paolo Banchero (left ankle sprain) — provided the first true resistance Doncic has faced this year.
Doncic’s last layup inside the final minute ensured he didn’t tie a season-low in field-goal makes (8), but the 3-pointer he airballed on the ensuing possession allowed the Magic to drain the clock and finish their third victory of the season to a standing ovation.
A symptom of the team’s offensive lull.
The Mavericks shot 5 of 18 from the floor in the fourth quarter and made just one field-goal over the last six minutes.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the Mavericks with 29 points, but the Mavericks’ second unit missed the offensive versatility and ball-handling threat with Wood, who is not traveling with the team on this back-to-back after spraining his left knee Monday, though the Mavericks don’t anticipate long-term concerns after the road trip.
Center Dwight Powell earned his second start in the last three games in place of JaVale McGee, who came off the bench for 11 minutes. Maxi Kleber played more small-ball five in Wood’s absence.
