Vince Carter scored 21 points in his Orlando debut and Brandon Bass added seven of his 13 points in the final two minutes to lift the Magic to a 110-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in the preseason opener for both teams on Monday night.
Carter, who was acquired by the Magic in an offseason trade with the Toronto Raptors, scored 15 points in the third quarter. Bass was a key reserve for the Mavericks the past two seasons before signing a four-year free-agent deal with the Magic during the offseason.
Dallas held a 101-99 lead with 2:41 left before Bass powered inside for a three-point play with 1:50 left that put Orlando ahead for good.
On the Magic's next possession, Bass drove hard to the basket and converted the ensuing free throw for another three-point play that gave the Magic a 105-101 edge.
Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points, including going 17-for-19 from the free-throw line.
Drew Gooden, an offseason free-agent pickup by the Mavericks, added 18 points.
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Orlando's Dwight Howard had 17 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 4:31 left in the third quarter.
Rashard Lewis added 18 points for the Magic. Lewis is suspended for the first 10 games of the regular season for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy but can participate in preseason games. Lewis tested positive for a banned substance that was found in an over-the-counter supplement he was taking.
The Mavericks carried an 82-80 advantage into the fourth quarter, with Nowitzki and Gooden scoring 12 points apiece in the third.
Dallas shot 33 percent from the floor in the first half but held a 47-45 halftime lead at the break behind J.J. Barea's 13 points.
Shawn Marion had been set to make his Mavericks after being acquired in an offseason trade, but Marion was held out with what the team termed a slight right calf strain.
Mavericks swingman Josh Howard will miss the early preseason games as he recovers from offseason surgery on his left ankle. Howard has been doing some light running, but is being held out of 5-on-5 scrimmages.
Coach Rick Carlisle said Howard is "progressing" and "hopefully he can play the latter part of the exhibition schedule."
