The Orlando Magic (10-5) secured their fifth consecutive victory by overcoming the Denver Nuggets (10-5), the defending NBA champions, with a final score of 124-119.
Franz Wagner’s outstanding performance, scoring 24 of his 27 points in the second half, and Paolo Banchero’s 23-point contribution led the Magic to victory.
Despite Nikola Jokic’s impressive triple-double of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists, the Nuggets struggled to contain the Magic’s offensive prowess.
The absence of injured guard Jamal Murray continues to impact the Nuggets, who now stand at 4-4 without him.
Michael Porter Jr. contributed 25 points for the Nuggets, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win on their current trip, where they have lost three of their last four games.
The turning point in the game came with a crucial 3-pointer by Banchero, breaking a 115-all tie with just 1:49 left.
Orlando’s depth was evident as nine different players contributed points in the final quarter. Goga Bitadze, Jalen Suggs, and Wagner sealed the victory with six consecutive successful free throws in the last 14 seconds.
