Dallas Mavericks vs Orlando Magic Prediction 3/5/2026 Today’s NBA Picks

The Dallas Mavericks and the Orlando Magic duke it out at the Kia Center on Thursday night.

Dallas Mavericks Betting Preview 

The Dallas Mavericks have been ice-cold as they’ve lost 14 of their last 16 games overall and they will be hoping to snap a four-game slide after getting humbled by the Hornets in a 117-90 road defeat on Tuesday. Brandon Williams led the team with 18 points, PJ Washington added 13 points while Dwight Powell chipped in with 12 points off the bench. As a team, the Mavericks shot 38 percent from the field and a horrendous three of 22 from the 3-point line as they played decent in the first half to stay within striking distance despite their poor shooting, but that all changed in the second half where the Mavericks got outscored by 60-42 to get completely blown out in the end. With so many players out injured, the Mavericks needed someone like Khris Middleton to step up but he finished with just nine points on four of 11 shooting. 

Orlando Magic Betting Preview 

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic have been in pretty good form lately as they’ve won seven of their last 11 games overall and they will be eager to keep it going after smashing the slumping Wizards in a 126-109 win on Tuesday. Paolo Banchero led the team with 37 points, five rebounds and six assists on 15 of 21 shooting, Desmond Bane added 25 points on seven of 10 shooting while Jett Howard chipped in with 12 points. As a team, the Magic shot 55 percent from the field and 10 of 25 from the 3-point line as they went back and forth with the pesky Wizards in a tightly contested first half, before they finally took control of the contest with a 40-point burst in the third quarter to open up a 25-point lead. 

Dallas v Orlando Free Prediction

The Mavericks are still missing a bunch of players with Marvin Bagley III, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II still out but there is a bit of hope with Cooper Flagg upgraded to questionable for this one, while the Magic are still missing Franz Wagner with Anthony Black and Wendell Carter Jr both questionable. The Mavericks are one of the coldest teams in the league right now, but they could still make this a contest if Flagg is able to suit up for this one. The Mavericks should be good enough to get the job done in this one, but with the line so high, I am leaning towards the Mavericks to make this game closer than it really should be.

Peter Tran's Pick: Dallas +8.5