The Mavericks finished the first quarter with a 21-17 lead and it could have been more. But they did find the secret to being ahead -- good defense and bad shooting. The Mavericks were aggressive on defense, but when the Magic shooters had open shots, they didn't make the most of them.
Orlando made only one of its first 11 attempts and finished the first quarter 6-of-24 from the field. If the Magic can't do better than that, it's good news for the Mavericks. But recent history suggests the Mavericks' big test will be the fourth quarter, not the first.
-- Jan Hubbard
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