Magic beat Mavericks 115-114 on last-second dunk

Wendell Carter Jr.'s dunk in final seconds lifts Orlando over Dallas

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Wendell Carter Jr. made a go-ahead dunk with 1.4 seconds left, and the Orlando Magic beat the Dallas Mavericks 115-114 on Thursday night to spoil the return of Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg.

Why it matters

The win for the Magic keeps them in the hunt for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, while the loss is a disappointing one for the Mavericks, who were looking to build momentum with Flagg back in the lineup after he missed several games due to injury.

The details

Carter Jr. scored the game-winning points for the Magic with his last-second dunk, capping a back-and-forth contest that saw the lead change hands multiple times in the final minutes. The Mavericks had a chance to win it at the buzzer but were unable to convert.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 6, 2026.
  • Wendell Carter Jr. made the game-winning dunk with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.

The players

Wendell Carter Jr.

A forward for the Orlando Magic who made the game-winning dunk in the final seconds.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie for the Dallas Mavericks who was returning to the lineup after missing several games due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge win for us. The guys really battled and Wendell came up big at the end.”

— Jamahl Mosley, Head Coach, Orlando Magic (Yahoo Daily News)

“We had our chances but just couldn't finish it off. Tough loss, but we'll learn from it and come back stronger.”

— Jason Kidd, Head Coach, Dallas Mavericks (Yahoo Daily News)

What’s next

The Magic will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, while the Mavericks will hope to bounce back in their next game.

The takeaway

This game showcased the exciting, back-and-forth nature of NBA basketball, with the Magic pulling out a thrilling victory in the final seconds thanks to a clutch play by Wendell Carter Jr.