The NBA penalized the Orlando Magic for what the league says was a violation of its injury reporting policies.

The team was fined $25,000 Thursday over Magic guard Anthony Black’s availability ahead of Monday’s game against the Detroit Pistons.

Black missed 15 games leading up to Monday’s matchup as he recovered from an abdominal strain. He was initially designated as out for the game, but the 22-year-old entered and finished with 14 points and a pair of steals.

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Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., April 6, 2026. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Orlando beat Detroit 123-107 for its third straight win. The Magic kept rolling, outlasting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday for a fourth win in a row.

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In announcing the fine, the NBA said the Magic failed to accurately disclose Black’s game availability status.

Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the third quarter at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., April 8, 2026. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Black, a third-year player from Arkansas, is averaging 15.1 points and 3.8 assists in 62 games, including 40 starts.

Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Julian Phillips of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., April 8, 2026. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

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The Magic enter Friday’s game in Chicago against the Bulls in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons have clinched the East’s best overall record and play the Charlotte Hornets Friday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg etched his name into the history books on Friday.

Flagg, 19, became the first teenager in NBA history to score over 50 points in a game, scoring 51 points during the team’s 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center. While Flagg himself had a great game, for him, winning is his main focus.

“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said. “The basket feels big. My teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I like to win. That was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15, for the majority of the game.”

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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg watches from the bench during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

Flagg erupted for 24 points in the fourth quarter after head coach Jason Kidd and teammate Naji Marshall were ejected after complaining about a no-call on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg appreciated the support from his coach and teammates.

“It’s great to see,” Flagg said. “I already know that coach has my back and Naji … I know he has my back for sure out there. Just seeing their emotion, seeing them fight for me and fight for the calls. Definitely some emotion, and motivated me even further.”

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Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd talks to referee Eric Lewis after he was ejected in the second half of an NBA game against the Orlando Magic in Dallas, Texas, on April 3, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)

The Mavericks were down 30 when Flagg started his fourth-quarter scoring barrage in what ended up being their 14th consecutive home loss. It is the longest home losing streak since the Mavericks lost the first 19 games at the since-demolished Reunion Arena in 1993-94.

Flagg, who in 65 games this season has averaged 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, is in a heated race with former Duke teammate and Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel for Rookie of the Year. Kidd believes Flagg should win the award, comparing him to Michael Jordan.

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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

“He should be rookie of the year,” Kidd said. “It’s unbelievable. The country’s not watching the same thing we get to watch on a daily basis. He’s in rare air. He’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year. And as a teenager, to see what Cooper’s doing, just the excitement, the joy, playing the game, win or lose, his spirit, is about winning. Right now we’re not.”

Flagg’s rookie season will continue when the Mavericks (24-53) host the Los Angeles Lakers (50-27) on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Lakers found themselves facing a familiar test on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena against a young, physical and big Magic squad – the type of team that’s given them troubles before. 

And the Lakers were overpowered, leading to their 110-109 loss after Wendell Carter Jr.’s game-winning putback layup with seven seconds left. 

The Lakers had a chance to win, but Luka Doncic passed up a deep 3-point attempt before passing the ball to LeBron James, who missed an errant 3 before the game’s final buzzer.

Doncic finished with 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds for a near triple-double, but shot 8 of 24 from the field.

Deandre Ayton had his first 20-point game in nearly a month, finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds. 

LeBron James added 21 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Austin Reaves had 18 points (6-of-16 shooting) after a slow start.

What it means

The Lakers fell to 34-23 on the season.

They dropped down to the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference standings, with the Timberwolves (36-23) moving ahead of them.

Turning point 

When LeBron James missed a free throw with 45 seconds left.

The Lakers were leading 107-105 with a chance to go up by three, but after James missed, Desmond Bane made a 3-pointer to put the Magic up 108-107 with 35 seconds left.

James dunked to give the Lakers a 109-108 lead before Carter’s game-winner. 

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The fourth-year forward led the Magic with 36 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. 

He went 10 of 11 on free throws, overpowering the Lakers on the interior.

The Magic scored 58 points in the paint and had 15 second-chance points. 

Stat of the game: eight

That’s how many missed free throws the Lakers had against the Magic. 

Doncic was the biggest culprit of the free-throwing shooting woes, going 4 of 9 from the free throw line.

Up next

The Lakers will head on the road for the first time in three weeks now that their extended homestand that started with the Feb. 5 win over the 76ers is over.

The Lakers will play the Suns in Phoenix on Thursday before playing the Warriors in San Franciso on Saturday.