Game ID: 22300226
Denver Nuggets @ Orlando Magic
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Amway Center, Orlando, FL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
ORL 28 28 26 42 124DEN 28 34 26 31 119
DEN @ ORL ScoutingDEN @ ORL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
ORL availability going into 11/15 · back-to-backOUT Carter Jr. missed 5 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Gar. Harris missed 5 since 11/04, returns tonight: 21 min (86% of 24)
OUT Fultz missed 2 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Houstan back 11/14 after 2, 4 min since (34% of 13)
NEW Black 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Ingles 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 6 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 3 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 11/15 after 5, 21 min since (86% of 24)
BACK Houstan back 11/14 after 2, 4 min since (34% of 13)
NEW Black 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 7 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 4 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 11/15 after 5, 25 min since (102% of 24)
BACK Houstan back 11/14 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 13)
NEW Bitadze 15 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/21 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 8 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 5 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 11/15 after 5, 24 min since (98% of 24)
BACK Houstan back 11/14 after 2, 6 min since (48% of 13)
NEW Black 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 23 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/22 · back-to-backOUT Carter Jr. missed 9 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 6 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 11/15 after 5, 24 min since (97% of 24)
BACK Houstan back 11/14 after 2, 6 min since (43% of 13)
NEW Anthony 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 10 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 7 since 11/11, out tonight
BACK Gar. Harris back 11/15 after 5, 24 min since (97% of 24)
NEW Anthony 22 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 26 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 8 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Anthony 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 11/29 · 2 days' restOUT Carter Jr. missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 9 since 11/11, out tonight
NEW Anthony 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
ORL availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Carter Jr. missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Fultz missed 10 since 11/11, out tonight
OUT Isaac missed 2 since 11/26, returns tonight: 7 min (42% of 16)
NEW Anthony 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Bitadze 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 8 min since (54% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/17 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 4 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 5 min since (33% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/19 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 5 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 5 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 5 min since (33% of 15)
NEW Gordon 32 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/20 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 6 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 6 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/08 after 3, 9 min since (61% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 7 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 7 since 11/06, out tonight
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 8 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/20, returns tonight: 13 min (86% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 8 since 11/06, out tonight
NEW Jackson 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 9 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 9 since 11/06, returns tonight: 12 min (114% of 11)
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 13 min since (86% of 15)
NEW Jackson 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 10 since 11/06, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 12 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 11 since 11/06, returns tonight: 22 min (69% of 33)
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/24 after 2, 25 min since (167% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 11/26 after 9, 23 min since (212% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 32 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 20 and F. Wagner at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Carter Jr. (9 straight), Fultz (6 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 27 free throws a game to Denver's 20. Call it Orlando 111, Denver 108, Denver keeping it close.
11/15 @ CHI 96-94 — ORL notes
ORL won 96-94. ORL shot 39% (32 of 82) to CHI's 40%, 8 of 28 from three, and went to the line 30 times to CHI's 22 — 24 points from the stripe to their 19. ORL turned it over 13 times to CHI's 19. Banchero led with 17 (4 of 12, 2 of 4 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Anthony added 16, Bitadze 15. The hinge was Q2, 29-12: from level to 17 ahead.
11/17 @ CHI 103-97 — ORL notes
ORL won 103-97. ORL shot 48% (38 of 79) to CHI's 44%, 11 of 34 from three. The glass went 46-34 for them. F. Wagner led with 21 (9 of 18, 2 of 8 from three); Isaac added 18, Harris 15. The hinge was Q2, 25-17: a lead of 7 became 15, and the lead reached 20. Ingles was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/19 @ IND 128-116 — ORL notes
ORL won 128-116. ORL shot 49% (43 of 87) to IND's 44%, 7 of 20 from three, and went to the line 42 times to IND's 31 — 35 points from the stripe to their 24. Banchero led with 24 (9 of 14, 6 of 7 at the line); F. Wagner added 19, Suggs 18. The hinge was Q1, 42-21: from level to 21 ahead, and the lead reached 40. Banchero was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
11/21 vs TOR 126-107 — ORL notes
ORL won 126-107. ORL shot 50% (50 of 100) to TOR's 51%, 12 of 31 from three. ORL turned it over 12 times to TOR's 23. Banchero led with 25 (10 of 20, 2 of 3 from three); Suggs added 18, F. Wagner 17. The hinge was Q1, 30-23: from level to 7 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Harris was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
11/22 vs DEN 124-119 — ORL notes
ORL won 124-119. ORL shot 54% (44 of 81) to DEN's 47%, 10 of 29 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DEN's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 16. F. Wagner led with 27 (11 of 18, 1 of 4 from three); Banchero added 23, Anthony 20. The hinge was Q4, 42-31: ORL came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 5. ORL trailed 56-62 at the half and won the second half 68-57. Ingles was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
11/24 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Banchero at 20 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Carter Jr. (10 straight), Fultz (7 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the line, where Orlando takes 29 free throws a game to Boston's 20. Call it Orlando 112, Boston 110, Boston keeping it close.
11/26 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Banchero at 22 and F. Wagner at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Carter Jr. (11 straight), Fultz (8 straight). One day's rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Ball at 34 and Bridges at 21 a game. Without Rozier (9 straight), Richards (3 straight), Maledon (3 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the defense, Orlando allowing 107 a night to Charlotte's 119 and the glass, where Orlando has been plus-6 a night and Charlotte minus-1. Call it Orlando 119, Charlotte 108, Orlando by 11.
11/29 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 111, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Carter Jr. (12 straight), Fultz (9 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-6 a night and Washington minus-9 and the defense, Orlando allowing 111 a night to Washington's 127. Call it Orlando 123, Washington 113, Orlando by 10.
12/01 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 112, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 26 free throws a game; F. Wagner at 24 and Anthony at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Carter Jr. (13 straight), Fultz (10 straight), Isaac (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Orlando wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-6 and the defense, Orlando allowing 112 a night to Washington's 126. Call it Orlando 124, Washington 113, Orlando by 11.
11/14 vs LAC 111-108 — DEN notes
DEN won 111-108. DEN shot 53% (39 of 73) to LAC's 43%, 8 of 23 from three, and went to the line 32 times to LAC's 24 — 25 points from the stripe to their 21. Jokić led with 32 (8 of 23, 2 of 7 from three, 14 of 14 at the line); Gordon added 20, Jackson 18. The hinge was Q2, 32-26: a lead of 2 became 8. Jackson was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
11/17 @ NOP 110-115 — DEN notes
DEN lost 110-115. DEN took 8 more shots (96 to 88), fed by 11 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to NOP's 52%, 10 of 40 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 20 fouls committed. The glass went 51-39 for them. Jokić led with 26 (10 of 20, 1 of 8 from three); Braun added 25, Porter Jr. 18. Q3 was theirs, 33-26, the deficit cut from 16 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 89-77 against them. Strawther's -16 in 8 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/19 @ CLE 109-121 — DEN notes
DEN lost 109-121. DEN shot 48% (39 of 82) to CLE's 55%, 14 of 29 from three. The glass went 33-47 against them. Porter Jr. led with 21 (7 of 15, 5 of 9 from three); Jokić added 18, Braun 13. Q4 was theirs, 34-29, the deficit cut from 17 to 12, but the other 3 periods went 92-75 against them. Porter Jr.'s -31 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 @ DET 107-103 — DEN notes
DEN won 107-103. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to DET's 44%, 11 of 28 from three. Jackson led with 21 (9 of 15, 1 of 3 from three); Caldwell-Pope added 20, Braun 15. The hinge was Q1, 27-23: from level to 4 ahead. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/22 @ ORL 119-124 — DEN notes
DEN lost 119-124. DEN took 12 more shots (93 to 81), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 47% to ORL's 54%, 15 of 35 from three, and got to the line 21 times to ORL's 30. Jokić led with 30 (12 of 18); Porter Jr. added 25, Gordon 15. Q2 was theirs, 34-28, but the other 3 periods went 96-85 against them. Braun's -13 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. Without Thompson (9 straight), Whitmore (7 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 23 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Denver's 114 and the arc, Denver at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 111, Denver 108, Denver keeping it close.
11/26 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (9 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 120 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 13. Call it Denver 116, San Antonio 109.
11/27 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 101 a night to Denver's 115 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 32. Call it the Clippers 114, Denver 106.
11/29 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Jackson at 18 a game. Without Murray (11 straight), Gordon (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 23 and Ja. Green at 19 a game. Without Thompson (11 straight), Whitmore (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 38 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to Denver's 111. Call it Denver 111, Houston 108, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
ORLAB A. Black
CA C. Anthony
FW F. Wagner
GB G. Bitadze
GH G. Harris
JI J. Ingles
JI J. Isaac
JS J. Suggs
MW M. Wagner
PB P. Banchero
DEN/ORL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Franz Wagner has big 2nd half as Magic hold off Nikola Jokic, Nuggets for 5th straight win
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Franz Wagner scored 24 of his 27 points in the second half, Paolo Banchero added 23 points, and the Orlando Magic overcame Nikola Jokic 's triple-double Wednesday night to record their fifth straight victory, 124-119 over the Denver Nuggets .
Jokic finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Nuggets, who fell to 4-4 without injured guard Jamal Murray . The triple-double was the sixth of the season for Jokic and 111th of his career.
Michael Porter Jr . scored 25 points for the defending NBA champions, who lost for the third time in four games on their current trip.
The Magic took the lead for good on a 3 by Banchero that broke a 115-all tie with 1:49 left. Last season's Rookie of the Year shot 4 of 5 from behind the arc, bringing his season percentage up to 45.4%. He shot 29.8% on 3s last season.
“A lot of teams try to stop me from getting to the rim so my whole thing is just making ’em pay,” Banchero said. “I’ve always been a good shooter so it’s just believing in it and taking the right ones, the ones that are in rhythm, the ones that feel good. And when I take 'em I’m shooting with confidence.”
The number that stood out for Denver coach Michael Malone was the Magic's 42 points in the fourth quarter.
“They’re a good team,” Malone said. “They’ve won five in a row, they’re 10-5, they’ve got the No. 1 defense (in opponents' points per 100 possessions). Their bench scored 58 points tonight. But that’s a game we should have won. We did not make enough plays down the stretch on either end. You can’t allow a good team to score 42 points when the game is hanging in the balance.”
Wagner and Banchero combined to score Orlando's first 21 points of the second half, but nine Magic players scored in the final quarter. Goga Bitadze , Jalen Suggs and Wagner clinched the win with six straight free throws in the final 14 seconds.
The game was tied at 108-all with 4:25 remaining when Jokic was called for a foul as he swung his arms around to get untangled from Suggs as they were running up the floor.
Jumpers by Wagner and Banchero then put Orlando up by four, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a 3-pointer and Aaron Gordon drove for a layup that put Denver back ahead briefly.
Jokic had 15 points in the fourth quarter, all of them from under the basket and the foul line.
“We knew it was going to be Jokic down the stretch so our main focus was taking the 3-point line away and making it tough on Jokic,” Banchero said. “Obviously he can get wherever he wants but we wanted to make it challenging. We don’t want to over-help or overreact and then give up a 3-pointer to Porter or Caldwell-Pope.”
Jokic, whose first-half ejection at Detroit on Monday marked the first time since March 14 that he had not finished with a double-double, had 13 points, five rebounds and eight assists at halftime.