Franz Wagner has big 2nd half as Magic hold off Nikola Jokic, Nuggets for 5th straight win
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) 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.
UP NEXT
Nuggets: Visit Houston on Friday.
Magic: Host Boston on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nikola Jokic vs. Goga Bitadze (Reggie Jackson gains possession) | |||
11:33 | Aaron Gordon misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
11:30 | Goga Bitadze defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Jalen Suggs misses two point running layup | |||
11:24 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Anthony Black shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
11:09 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 1-0 | |
11:09 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-0 | |
10:57 | Anthony Black misses two point driving layup | |||
10:52 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 5-0 | |
10:13 | Franz Wagner misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:08 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
9:56 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:54 | Franz Wagner defensive rebound | |||
9:50 | +2 | Franz Wagner makes two point running layup | 5-2 | |
9:50 | Michael Porter Jr. shooting foul (Franz Wagner draws the foul) | |||
9:50 | +1 | Franz Wagner makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-3 | |
9:26 | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 8-3 | |
9:00 | Goga Bitadze turnover (lost ball) (Nikola Jokic steals) | |||
8:54 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 10-3 | |
8:31 | +2 | Paolo Banchero makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 10-5 | |
8:24 | Paolo Banchero personal foul (Aaron Gordon draws the foul) | |||
8:14 | Nikola Jokic misses two point floating jump shot | |||
8:11 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
8:09 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 13-5 | |
7:45 | Franz Wagner misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:42 | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | |||
7:42 | +2 | Goga Bitadze makes two point putback layup | 13-7 | |
7:35 | +2 | Michael Porter Jr. makes two point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 15-7 | |
7:11 | Michael Porter Jr. personal foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul) | |||
7:00 | +3 | Paolo Banchero makes three point jump shot (Franz Wagner assists) | 15-10 | |
6:39 | Jalen Suggs shooting foul (Nikola Jokic draws the foul) | |||
6:39 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
6:39 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-10 | |
6:39 | +1 | Nikola Jokic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-10 | |
6:26 | Franz Wagner misses two point driving layup | |||
6:26 | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | |||
6:26 | Goga Bitadze misses two point tip layup | |||
6:26 | Magic offensive rebound | |||
6:26 | Nikola Jokic personal foul (Loose ball) (Goga Bitadze draws the foul) | |||
6:11 | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point cutting layup (Paolo Banchero assists) | 17-12 | |
5:57 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point jump shot (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 19-12 | |
5:44 | Jalen Suggs misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:42 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
5:37 | Aaron Gordon misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
5:33 | Joe Ingles defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | +2 | Goga Bitadze makes two point cutting layup (Joe Ingles assists) | 19-14 | |
5:07 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:04 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
5:00 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point driving layup | 21-14 | |
4:42 | Paolo Banchero misses two point jump shot | |||
4:40 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
4:31 | Christian Braun misses two point driving layup | |||
4:30 | Goga Bitadze defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | Paolo Banchero misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
4:16 | Christian Braun defensive rebound | |||
4:03 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope turnover (lost ball) (Joe Ingles steals) | |||
3:57 | +3 | Joe Ingles makes three point running jump shot (Jalen Suggs assists) | 21-17 | |
3:56 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
3:33 | Christian Braun turnover (lost ball) (Paolo Banchero steals) | |||
3:14 | +2 | Joe Ingles makes two point driving layup | 21-19 | |
3:04 | Aaron Gordon misses two point alley-oop dunk | |||
3:02 | Paolo Banchero defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | +2 | Paolo Banchero makes two point driving layup (Joe Ingles assists) | 21-21 | |
2:51 | Christian Braun shooting foul (Paolo Banchero draws the foul) | |||
2:51 | +1 | Paolo Banchero makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-22 | |
2:32 | +3 | Aaron Gordon makes three point stepback jump shot (Julian Strawther assists) | 24-22 | |
2:11 | Goga Bitadze misses two point hook shot | |||
2:10 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
2:00 | Aaron Gordon misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
1:58 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
1:58 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point tip layup | 26-22 | |
1:47 | Cole Anthony misses three point jump shot | |||
1:45 | Jalen Pickett defensive rebound | |||
1:42 | Jump ball. Gary Harris vs. Jalen Pickett (Moritz Wagner gains possession) | |||
1:42 | Jalen Pickett turnover (lost ball) (Gary Harris steals) | |||
1:26 | +2 | Moritz Wagner makes two point cutting layup (Joe Ingles assists) | 26-24 | |
1:11 | +2 | Zeke Nnaji makes two point layup (Christian Braun assists) | 28-24 | |
0:53 | +2 | Moritz Wagner makes two point layup (Joe Ingles assists) | 28-26 | |
0:41 | Cole Anthony personal foul (Zeke Nnaji draws the foul) | |||
0:33 | Jalen Pickett misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
0:30 | Gary Harris defensive rebound | |||
0:10 | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Joe Ingles draws the foul) | |||
0:10 | +1 | Joe Ingles makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-27 | |
0:10 | +1 | Joe Ingles makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-28 | |
0:00 | Jalen Pickett misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:00 | Jonathan Isaac defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:48 | Zeke Nnaji shooting foul (Moritz Wagner draws the foul) | |||
11:48 | Moritz Wagner misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:48 | Magic offensive rebound | |||
11:48 | +1 | Moritz Wagner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-29 | |
11:30 | +2 | Peyton Watson makes two point jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 30-29 | |
11:17 | Christian Braun shooting foul (Cole Anthony draws the foul) | |||
11:17 | +1 | Cole Anthony makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-30 | |
11:17 | +1 | Cole Anthony makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-31 | |
10:57 | Reggie Jackson misses three point jump shot | |||
10:53 | Gary Harris defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | Moritz Wagner misses two point layup | |||
10:37 | Jonathan Isaac offensive rebound | |||
10:37 | +2 | Jonathan Isaac makes two point tip layup | 30-33 | |
10:22 | +2 | Christian Braun makes two point driving layup (Zeke Nnaji assists) | 32-33 | |
10:07 | +2 | Moritz Wagner makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Joe Ingles assists) | 32-35 | |
9:59 | +3 | Christian Braun makes three point pullup jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 35-35 | |
9:38 | +2 | Jonathan Isaac makes two point cutting dunk (Joe Ingles assists) | 35-37 | |
9:26 | Joe Ingles personal foul (Julian Strawther draws the foul) | |||
9:15 | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving hook shot | |||
9:13 | Jonathan Isaac defensive rebound | |||
9:10 | Julian Strawther shooting foul (Cole Anthony draws the foul) | |||
9:10 | +1 | Cole Anthony makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-38 | |
9:10 | +1 | Cole Anthony makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-39 | |
8:58 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 38-39 | |
8:45 | Jonathan Isaac misses three point jump shot | |||
8:42 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope defensive rebound | |||
8:37 | Reggie Jackson misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
8:34 | Moritz Wagner defensive rebound | |||
8:26 | Gary Harris misses three point jump shot | |||
8:22 | Michael Porter Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:13 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:10 | Peyton Watson offensive rebound | |||
8:09 | Jonathan Isaac shooting foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | |||
8:09 | Peyton Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:09 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
8:09 | Peyton Watson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:07 | Jonathan Isaac defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Moritz Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
7:49 | Jonathan Isaac offensive rebound | |||
7:49 | +2 | Jonathan Isaac makes two point putback layup | 38-41 | |
7:36 | Reggie Jackson misses two point driving layup | |||
7:36 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
7:27 | Gary Harris personal foul (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope draws the foul) | |||
7:13 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:10 | Nikola Jokic offensive rebound | |||
6:57 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 40-41 | |
6:46 | Moritz Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
6:43 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
6:38 | Magic 60 second timeout | |||
6:22 | Nikola Jokic misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
6:17 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
6:09 | +2 | Nikola Jokic makes two point driving layup | 42-41 | |
5:47 | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point driving layup (Gary Harris assists) | 42-43 | |
5:33 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point driving layup | 44-43 | |
5:11 | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point driving layup (Paolo Banchero assists) | 44-45 | |
4:46 | +3 | Michael Porter Jr. makes three point pullup jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 47-45 | |
4:27 | Paolo Banchero misses three point jump shot | |||
4:22 | Paolo Banchero offensive rebound | |||
4:21 | +2 | Paolo Banchero makes two point putback layup | 47-47 | |
4:00 | Jalen Pickett misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:58 | Aaron Gordon offensive rebound | |||
3:54 | Jalen Pickett misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:53 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Nuggets turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
3:29 | Franz Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
3:27 | Aaron Gordon defensive rebound | |||
3:23 | Jalen Suggs shooting foul (Michael Porter Jr. draws the foul) | |||
3:23 | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-47 | |
3:23 | +1 | Michael Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 49-47 | |
3:00 | Paolo Banchero turnover (bad pass) (Aaron Gordon steals) | |||
2:55 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Suggs steals) | |||
2:52 | +2 | Jalen Suggs makes two point running layup | 49-49 | |
2:43 | +3 | Reggie Jackson makes three point jump shot (Nikola Jokic assists) | 52-49 | |
2:34 | Cole Anthony misses three point jump shot | |||
2:31 | Franz Wagner offensive rebound | |||
2:22 | +3 | Cole Anthony makes three point jump shot (Franz Wagner assists) | 52-52 | |
2:00 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point driving layup (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists) | 54-52 | |
2:00 | Goga Bitadze defensive goaltending violation | |||
1:42 | +2 | Cole Anthony makes two point driving dunk (Jalen Suggs assists) | 54-54 | |
1:24 | +2 | Aaron Gordon makes two point cutting dunk (Nikola Jokic assists) | 56-54 | |
1:06 | Franz Wagner misses three point jump shot | |||
1:03 | Nikola Jokic defensive rebound | |||
0:59 | Aaron Gordon offensive foul (Charge) (Cole Anthony draws the foul) | |||
0:59 | Aaron Gordon turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:59 | Nuggets 60 second timeout | |||
0:43 | Jalen Suggs misses three point jump shot | |||
0:40 | Reggie Jackson defensive rebound | |||
0:32 | +3 | Nikola Jokic makes three point jump shot (Reggie Jackson assists) | 59-54 | |
0:09 | Peyton Watson shooting foul (Cole Anthony draws the foul) | |||
0:09 | +1 | Cole Anthony makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 59-55 | |
0:09 | +1 | Cole Anthony makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 59-56 | |
0:01 | +2 | Reggie Jackson makes two point pullup jump shot | 61-56 | |
0:01 | Jalen Suggs shooting foul (Reggie Jackson draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | +1 | Reggie Jackson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 62-56 | |
0:01 | Jalen Suggs turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
0:00 | Michael Porter Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Nuggets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |