NBA Basketball
2026-03-05 - Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NBA Basketball
Thursday 5th March 2026 - Scheduled 7pm
12am (British Time)
Preview
There is now a real intensity for those teams chasing Playoff spots, but we are also reaching that stage of the NBA regular season when those who are thinking about next season begin to show that on the court.
Two teams travelling in different directions meet on Thursday when the Orlando Magic (32-28) host the disappointing Dallas Mavericks (21-40).
Cooper Flagg is pushing to return to the lineup for the Mavericks, but is set to miss another game and the remaining members of the roster have struggled for consistency. The decision to trade away Anthony Davis a year after bringing him in, whilst moving Luka Doncic, has only made it that much clearer to Dallas fans that this is yet another season that is going to be seen as one of transition.
What makes it hurt that much more is that we are not even at the two year mark since the Mavericks played in the NBA Finals and fell short against the Boston Celtics! Decisions made since that moment have been questionable in some cases and simply mind-boggling in others and the Mavericks are 8 games out of the Play In Tournament positions in the Western Conference and showing little to no interest in closing that down.
Dallas have lost four in a row and that includes defeats to fellow strugglers Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies and now they have to take on an Orlando Magic team motoring to finish in the top six of the Eastern Conference.
The Magic have struggled for consistency at times as the roster remains stretched by injury, but just blew out the Washington Wizards and covered the spread in three of the last four games when set as the favourite.
There will be opportunities for the Mavericks on the Offensive side of the court, which makes this spread a little tougher to read, but Orlando will certainly feel they can have a lot of joy with the ball in their hands.
At the moment there looks to be a bit more rhythm about the home team compared with Dallas and that could be key with the likelihood being that Orlando can put together enough positive stretches of play to eventually wear down this opponent.
It is the Dallas Mavericks who have won the last four in the series against the Orlando Magic, but the latter might not have a better opportunity to snap that run.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite.
The Pick :
Orlando Magic 116-105 Dallas Mavericks
