DENVER — Nikola Jokic recorded an impressive performance with 28 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, marking his 24th triple-double of the season. Michael Porter Jr. contributed significantly as well, adding 30 points to the scoreboard. The Denver Nuggets secured their fifth consecutive victory by defeating the Orlando Magic 112-90 on Thursday night.
Christian Braun also made an impact, finishing the game with 16 points for the Nuggets, who did not make any trades as the deadline passed. The team was in complete control of the matchup, allowing Jokic to rest in the fourth quarter.
Porter displayed his scoring prowess by successfully making 11 of 16 attempts from the field, which included hitting five three-pointers. This victory marks his third straight game with 30 or more points.
On the other side, Wendell Carter Jr. was the leading scorer for the Magic with 19 points, while teammate Paolo Banchero added 18 points to the total. The Magic faltered significantly during the third quarter, getting outscored 33-17.
Both teams entered the game after playing the previous night. The Nuggets enjoyed a commanding victory over New Orleans with a score of 144-119, while the Magic triumphed against Sacramento, finishing 130-111.
In a memorable moment, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope received a warm welcome upon his return to Denver, complete with a video tribute. Caldwell-Pope played for the Nuggets for two seasons and was part of the team that clinched the 2023 NBA title before signing with Orlando during the offseason. He contributed a total of seven points in this game.
For the Nuggets, Julian Strawther made his NBA starting debut, managing to score two points on just one successful shot out of eight attempts. He was filling in for Jamal Murray, who is currently dealing with inflammation in his left knee. Additionally, Peyton Watson and Russell Westbrook were both unavailable due to knee and hamstring issues, respectively.
One of the highlights of the game was Jokic’s exceptional passing, particularly a remarkable moment in the third quarter where he executed a back-to-the-basket, over-the-head pass to Aaron Gordon, who converted it into a dunk.
A noteworthy statistic from the game is that the Nuggets hold an impressive record of 10 wins and just one loss when playing on the second night of back-to-backs.
Looking ahead, both teams have games scheduled for Saturday, with the Magic set to host the San Antonio Spurs and the Nuggets traveling to face the Phoenix Suns.
