DALLAS MAVERICKS (6-3) AT ORLANDO MAGIC (2-9)
When: 4:30 p.m., Wednesday
Where: Amway Center, Orlando
TV: BSSW
Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
What you need to know: The tipoff time of this game was moved up by the NBA due to the impending arrival of Tropical Storm Nicole in the Orlando area, which the local weather experts expect will turn into a Category 1 hurricane. The Mavs are hopeful of finishing tonight’s game quickly so they can hop on a plane and fly to Washington, DC, shortly after the game ends and be prepared to battle the Washington Wizards on Thursday. . .The Mavs are riding a four-game winning streak and have proven to make all the right moves when the games get close. The last three Mavs’ victories have been by one possession. Back on Nov.2, the Mavs edged the Utah Jazz (103-100), and last Friday they nipped the Toronto Raptors (111-110). Also, this past Monday the Mavs put the finishing touches on their 4-1 five-game homestand when they clipped the Brooklyn Nets, 96-94. . .Luka Doncic has continued to be both magical and un-guardable. The fifth-year superstar point guard has tallied at least 30 points in all nine games this season. The only player with a longer such streak is Wilt Chamberlain, who started the 1962-’63 season by scoring 30 or more points in the opening 23 games. . .Doncic leads the NBA in scoring with 36 ppg, and also averages 8.4 rpg, 8.3 apg and 1.9 spg in 36.8 mpg, and is shooting 52.4 percent from the field. . .Spencer Dinwiddie and Christian Wood are averaging 15.6 ppg apiece, and Tim Hardaway Jr. averages 11.5 ppg. But the Mavs will be without Wood, who will miss tonight’s game with a left knee strain. Davis Bertans is also out tonight and has yet to play this season due to a right knee effusion. Hardaway, meanwhile, is questionable for tonight’s game with a left hip 
strain. . .The Magic have lost four of their last five games. Orlando is in the middle of a season-high seven-game homestand. The homestand started on Nov. 3 with a gigantic 130-129 win over the defending world champion Golden State Warriors behind 26 points, nine assists and four steals from Jalen Suggs, and 22 points and eight rebounds from rookie Paolo Banchero. . .Despite 33 points and 16 rebounds from Banchero – and 31 points, six assists and three steals from Franz Wagner – the Magic dropped a 126-123 decision in overtime to the Sacramento Kings this past Saturday when De’Aaron Fox drained a three-pointer from just past halfcourt at the buzzer. . .Banchero finished with 30 points and six rebounds during Monday’s 134-127 loss to the Houston Rockets. . .The No. 1 overall pick in this past June’s NBA Draft, Banchero is averaging 23.5 ppg and 8.3 rpg, and Wagner averages 18.1 ppg. Wendell Carter Jr. is averaging 15.9 ppg and 9.2 rpg, Suggs averages 12.7 ppg and 5.0 apg, and Bol Bol is averaging 11.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 2.2 bpg. . .The Mavs just beat the Magic in Dallas on Oct. 30 behind 44 points and five assists – along with no turnovers — from Doncic.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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