Nikola Jokic, Nuggets Manhandle Magic

Nikola Jokic contributed 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. Ended with 30 points when the host Denver Nuggets beat Orlando Magic 112-90 on Thursday night.

Jokic’s Triple double was his NBA-leading 24th season, while Porter has hit 30 points in three straight matches.

Christian Braun scored 16 points and Aaron Gordon contributed 11 for Denver, which improved to 10-1 on the second night with back-to-back games.

Wendall Carter Jr. Scored 19 points, Paolo Banchero added 18 and Franz Wagner had 14 points for Magic, who finished 1-5 on their road trip.

Nuggets were without three rotation players – Russell Westbrook (Hamstring), Peyton Watson (right knee shrug) and Jamal Murray (left knee infection). Westbrook has missed the last three games, Watson is expected to miss at least three more weeks and Murray is considered day to day.

Gary Harris (left hamstring) and Jalen SUGGS (left quad contusion) did not play for Orlando.

The magic led by six in the first quarter, but Denver rose in the second quarter behind Porter’s 16 points. With the game tied to 32, Porter hit a step-back 12-foot. Then he dived out of a pass from Gordon and drained a 26-foot, and the nuggets led 59-50 at the break.

Denver scored six straight points to open the third quarter and increased his lead to 65-50. The magic cut the deficit to 70-58 before the nuggets put it away.

Gordon converted a three-point game, Julian Strawther hit his first bucket of the game, and Jokic sank a crunch shot to stretch the lead to 78-60 midway through the third. After Carter made two free kicks, drained Porter two 3-Pointers, made 2 of 3 free throw and Braun became two Jokian passports to Dunks to give Denver a 90-62 lead.

Jokic finished his 154th career-triplet-double when he rebounded the Banchero’s missed free throw with less than a second back in the quarter.

The nuggets led by 33 at one point in the fourth.

-Felt level media