The Orlando Magic will make it to at least the Play-in Tournament in the Eastern Conference, but they’re clearly not playing like a playoff contender over the past several games. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks have been bad all season long. Which of these struggling teams will take a Black Saturday victory?

Catch this game live on Saturday, April 5, 2026 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Orlando Magic (40-36, 16-19 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Jalen Suggs
  • Desmond Bane
  • Franz Wagner
  • Paolo Banchero
  • Wendell Carter Jr.

The Magic have been a fumble-fest of late, with head coach Jamahl Mosley’s seat getting warmer. Orlando has lost two of its last 10 games, including a 130-101 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at home on Thursday. The Magic shot just 39.8% from the field against the Hawks and committed 19 turnovers. 

It was simply a painful watch for Orlando fans, who are hoping the team gets it together against the eliminated Mavs. The Magic beat Dallas at home on March 6, 115-114, with Wendell Carter Jr. scoring the game-winning dunk with 1.4 seconds left in regulation. 

And this time around, Orlando has Franz Wagner in the lineup. He returned to action after a long absence against the Hawks, scoring 12 points in 20 minutes. Wagner averaged 23.4 points in Orlando’s first 23 outings of the season.

The Magic are 4-5-1 against the spread in their last 10 meetings with Dallas.

Home: Dallas Mavericks (24-52, 14-24 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Cooper Flagg
  • Max Christie
  • Naji Marshall
  • P.J. Washington 
  • Daniel Gafford

Dallas is simply playing out the rest of the season, with the Mavericks already securing a spot in Cancun. They have lost their last two games to the Minnesota Timberwolves (124-94) at home on Tuesday and to the Milwaukee Bucks (123-99) on the road on Wednesday. 

This is a team that seems to have already checked out, but there should be some extra motivation for Dallas, with revenge as a narrative against the Magic. In the first meeting with Orlando, Klay Thompson threw it back with 24 points and seven 3-pointers, while Khris Middleton had 19 points on 7/15 shooting.  

Thompson sat out the Bucks game for rest purposes, so the 36-year-old shooter can be expected to suit up against the struggling Magic. He, along with Daniel Gafford, is no longer on the injury report heading into Saturday’s contest. Gafford exited the Bucks game with a shoulder issue, but is now looking good to go in the Orlando rematch.

The Mavericks are 7-2-1 against the spread in their last 10 home games against Orlando.

Picks

Spread: Orlando Magic (+6.5)
Over/Under: Under (236.5)