Orlando Magic @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO | Game ID: 22500377
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 25 43 31 27 126ORL 32 22 31 30 115
ESPN UpdateESPN Update
Jokic sets the career record for assists by a center as the Nuggets beat the Magic 126-115
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to become the career assists leader among centers, and the streaking Denver Nuggets beat the Orlando Magic 126-115 on Thursday night.
Jokic, who has 13 triple-doubles this season, entered Thursday six assists behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 5,660. Jokic passed him with 6:26 left in the first half when he fed Jalen Pickett for a 3-pointer.
Jamal Murray scored 20 of his 32 points in a game-turning second quarter for Denver, which won its sixth straight.
Paolo Banchero had 26 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double and first since March 20, 2024.
The Magic, already missing leading scorer Franz Wagner due to a sprained left ankle, played without Jalen Suggs , who sustained a left hip contusion in the NBA Cup semifinal loss to New York on Saturday night.
Wendell Carter Jr . also scored 26 points for Orlando.
Murray, who has never been named to an All-Star team in his eight seasons, is averaging a career-best 25.2 points this season and 28.1 in December, which includes a 52-point game at Indiana two weeks ago.
He made 5 of 6 3-point attempts in the second quarter after the Nuggets fell behind by 14.
Denver had 33 total points midway through the period and went on a 35-7 run in the final 6:26 of the half to turn a 47-33 deficit into a 68-54 halftime lead.
It was 81-60 a few minutes into the third quarter before Orlando rallied to cut it to 92-83. Cam Johnson, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, hit a 3-pointer out of a timeout that spurred another Nuggets surge.
The Magic got within 121-115 with 1:32 remaining but Johnson hit a corner 3-pointer to seal it.
Up next Mavericks: At Utah on Saturday night.
Nuggets: Host the Houston Rockets for the second time in six days on Saturday afternoon.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoJoJoMu 5 12 -3 6 12 50 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 3 4 2 1 1 1 2
DEN Brown, Johnson, Jokić, Jones, Murray
in Brown, Johnson, Jokić, Jones, Murray
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrJoJoMu :46 0 -2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
DEN Brown, Hardaway Jr., Jokić, Jones, Murray
in Hardaway Jr.
out Johnson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrJoMuSt 3 7 -5 3 3 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DEN Brown, Hardaway Jr., Jokić, Murray, Strawther
in Strawther
out Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrJoMuStVa 1 2 +2 1 3 33 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
DEN Hardaway Jr., Jokić, Murray, Strawther, Valančiūnas
in Valančiūnas
out Brown
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrJoJoStVa 2 4 +1 2 3 67 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
DEN Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Jokić, Strawther, Valančiūnas
in Johnson
out Murray
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrJoNnVa 4 8 -5 4 7 57 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 0 0 1 0
DEN Brown, Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Nnaji, Valančiūnas
in Brown, Nnaji
out Jokić, Strawther
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrMuNnPiVa 1 0 -2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 1 0
DEN Brown, Murray, Nnaji, Pickett, Valančiūnas
in Murray, Pickett
out Hardaway Jr., Johnson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JoJoJoMuPi 4 18 +13 6 7 86 4 5 80 2 2 100 0 5 5 3 1 0 1 3
DEN Johnson, Jokić, Jones, Murray, Pickett
in Johnson, Jokić, Jones
out Brown, Nnaji, Valančiūnas
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoJoMuPi 3 17 +15 6 7 86 3 4 75 2 2 100 0 6 6 1 0 0 0 1
DEN Brown, Johnson, Jokić, Murray, Pickett
in Brown
out Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoJoJoMu 1 4 0 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
DEN Brown, Johnson, Jokić, Jones, Murray
in Jones
out Pickett
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrJoJoMu 5 15 +1 7 11 64 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 4 4 2 0 0 0 2
DEN Brown, Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Jokić, Murray
in Hardaway Jr.
out Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrJoMuPi 3 5 -6 2 6 33 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 1
DEN Brown, Hardaway Jr., Jokić, Murray, Pickett
in Pickett
out Johnson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrJoJoNnPi 2 7 +5 2 2 100 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 3 3 1 0 0 2 0
DEN Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Jokić, Nnaji, Pickett
in Johnson, Nnaji
out Brown, Murray
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
JrJoJoPiVa 4 11 +3 4 8 50 1 5 20 2 2 100 1 4 5 2 2 0 1 3
DEN Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Jones, Pickett, Valančiūnas
in Jones, Valančiūnas
out Jokić, Nnaji
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoMuPiVa :46 0 -5 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
DEN Brown, Jones, Murray, Pickett, Valančiūnas
in Brown, Murray
out Hardaway Jr., Johnson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoJoMuPi 3 8 +2 2 5 40 2 2 100 2 3 67 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 1
DEN Brown, Jokić, Jones, Murray, Pickett
in Jokić
out Valančiūnas
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJoJoMuPi 3 3 -8 1 5 20 1 2 50 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1
DEN Brown, Johnson, Jokić, Murray, Pickett
in Johnson
out Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BrJrJoJoMu 1 5 +5 1 1 100 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
DEN Brown, Hardaway Jr., Johnson, Jokić, Murray
in Hardaway Jr.
out Pickett
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBaBlJrJo 4 12 +4 5 9 56 2 5 40 0 0 0 1 4 5 4 1 0 1 2
ORL Banchero, Bane, Black, Carter Jr., T. Jones
in Banchero, Bane, Black, Carter Jr., T. Jones
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBlJrHoJo 1 3 -1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 1
ORL Banchero, Black, Carter Jr., Howard, T. Jones
in Howard
out Bane
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBiBlHoJo 2 8 +6 3 3 100 2 2 100 1 2 50 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0
ORL Banchero, Bitadze, Black, Howard, T. Jones
in Bitadze
out Carter Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBiBlPeRi 3 6 -1 3 8 38 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 0 1 1 0 1
ORL Bane, Bitadze, Black, Penda, Richardson
in Bane, Penda, Richardson
out Banchero, Howard, T. Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBiHoPeRi 2 3 -1 1 1 100 1 1 100 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 2 2
ORL Bane, Bitadze, Howard, Penda, Richardson
in Howard
out Black
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBaBiHoRi 4 13 +5 5 9 56 3 4 75 0 0 0 2 2 4 4 1 1 0 2
ORL Banchero, Bane, Bitadze, Howard, Richardson
in Banchero
out Penda
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBlJrHoRi 1 2 +2 1 3 33 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
ORL Banchero, Black, Carter Jr., Howard, Richardson
in Black, Carter Jr.
out Bane, Bitadze
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBlJrPeJo 3 3 -10 1 5 20 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 0
ORL Banchero, Black, Carter Jr., Penda, T. Jones
in Penda, T. Jones
out Howard, Richardson
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBaBiBlJo 4 3 -17 1 8 12 0 3 0 1 2 50 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 3
ORL Banchero, Bane, Bitadze, Black, T. Jones
in Bane, Bitadze
out Carter Jr., Penda
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBaBlJrJo 5 14 -1 5 9 56 0 3 0 2 3 67 1 3 4 3 0 2 0 1
ORL Banchero, Bane, Black, Carter Jr., T. Jones
in Carter Jr.
out Bitadze
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBlJrHoRi 4 15 +6 6 10 60 1 4 25 2 2 100 2 3 5 6 1 1 1 0
ORL Banchero, Black, Carter Jr., Howard, Richardson
in Howard, Richardson
out Bane, T. Jones
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBaBiHoRi 1 0 -7 1 4 25 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
ORL Banchero, Bane, Bitadze, Howard, Richardson
in Bane, Bitadze
out Black, Carter Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBiHoPeRi 4 8 -3 3 5 60 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 0 0 3 2 0 2 3
ORL Bane, Bitadze, Howard, Penda, Richardson
in Penda
out Banchero
Lineup MIN PTS PM FGM FGA FG% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR REB AST STL BLK TO PF
BaBaBlJrHo 9 24 +8 8 15 53 2 4 50 6 9 67 1 9 10 5 2 1 1 4
ORL Banchero, Bane, Black, Carter Jr., Howard
in Banchero, Black, Carter Jr.
out Bitadze, Penda, Richardson
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ORLAB A. Black
DB D. Bane
GB G. Bitadze
JH J. Howard
JR J. Richardson
NP N. Penda
PB P. Banchero
SJ S. Jones
TJ T. Jones
WC W. Carter Jr.
DENBB B. Brown
CJ C. Johnson
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
ZN Z. Nnaji
ORL/DEN 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
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