Franz Wagner said Orlando delivered exactly what it needed Friday night at American Airlines Center, where the Magic beat the Dallas Mavericks 138-127 and kept pace in the Eastern Conference race.
“I thought we played a really good game,” Wagner said. “I thought we looked organized and shared the ball all game, and you know, that’s the result.”
The Magic wing said the team’s passing and pace drove the result. “Really dangerous,” Wagner said in reference to the team’s 35 assists.
Orlando’s offense spread the floor all night, and Wagner tied that to the way the team played within itself. “We got a lot of talent, a lot of guys that are really versatile and can make decisions out there,” he said. “The way that we play tonight allows for everybody to be aggressive.”
Wagner pointed to Wendell Carter Jr. as a major reason the offense opened up. “Wendell played a hell of a game,” Wagner said. “He was aggressive within the offense, and the way we played tonight helped him generate some good looks.”
Carter finished with 28 points, while Desmond Bane added 27 and Jalen Suggs scored 19. Orlando shot 56% from the field, made 14 3-pointers and got 35 assists in a balanced attack that kept Dallas under pressure even while Cooper Flagg scored 51 points.
Wagner also said he is still finding rhythm after returning to the lineup. “I feel all right,” he said. “Obviously got to manage the minutes and stuff like that. I definitely felt better in the last game, though.”
With Orlando moving closer to the postseason stretch, Wagner said the focus is on consistency. “I thought we played a really good game, especially offensively,” he said. “We made some good steps, and now it’s just a matter of consistency and just keep working on that.”
He also praised the team’s communication and chemistry, calling it a sign of growth. “I’m just so proud of these guys’ communication,” Wagner said. “The way that they were talking on the floor, communicating to each other the things that we needed to have done, and with the coaches as well.”
