ORLANDO, Fla. — Nikola Jokic delivered an impressive performance with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists, alongside three blocks, all while sitting out the fourth quarter. His efforts helped the Denver Nuggets secure a convincing 113-100 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday evening.
In addition to Jokic’s stellar stats, Christian Braun contributed significantly, adding 20 points and 11 rebounds to the Nuggets’ efforts. Jamal Murray also made an impact with 19 points, while Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in the game.
For the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. was the top performer, finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Black came off the bench to provide a boost, scoring 14 points and dishing out five assists.
Key observations from the game highlight that the Nuggets are now victorious in six of their last seven matchups, showing a solid shooting percentage of 52%. Despite committing 20 turnovers and struggling from beyond the arc with a 7-of-25 shooting performance from three-point range, they managed to overcome these obstacles. Notably, Jokic, who ranks as the second-best three-point shooter in the NBA at 47.1%, did not even attempt a single three-pointer throughout the game.
On the Magic’s end, they played without Jalen Suggs, Goga Bitadze, and several other injured players, resulting in a fifth loss in their last six contests. The team, known for its solid defensive ranking—second in the NBA for points allowed per 100 possessions—has recently struggled, surrendering 122, 121, and 113 points in their last three games.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Jamal Murray scored 10 consecutive points during the final 1:35 of the third quarter, pushing Denver’s lead from 83-77 to a commanding 16-point advantage. Three of those points came from assists provided by Jokic, who ended the quarter not only with a triple-double but also his 18th of the season.
An impressive rebound performance led by Jokic and Braun, who notched 11 rebounds collectively, allowed the Nuggets to dominate the boards, out-rebounding the Magic 57-40. Orlando’s record drops to 3-15 this season when they fail to win the rebounding battle.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will be back in action as they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, while the Magic are set to visit the Toronto Raptors later that same evening.
