Paolo Banchero heroics vault Magic past Nuggets

Field Level Media|published: Wed 22nd November, 21:59 2023

Nov 22, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) battle for the ball during the second quarter at Amway Center. credits: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Paolo Banchero sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter, lifting the host Orlando Magic to a 124-119 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Franz Wagner scored 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the floor to help Orlando overcome a triple-double by Nikola Jokic and record its fifth straight victory.

Banchero drained 4-of-5 attempts from 3-point range to highlight his 23-point performance.

Cole Anthony added 20 points off the bench for the Magic, who shot 54.3 percent from the floor (44 of 81) and held a 60-44 edge in points in the paint.

Jokic collected 30 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists and Michael Porter Jr. added 25 points for Denver.

Former Orlando player Aaron Gordon added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, who fell to 1-3 on their five-game road trip. Denver concludes the trek with a visit to the Houston Rockets on Friday.

Jokic's driving layup forged a 115-115 tie with 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter before Banchero rattled home a 3-pointer on the next possession. Jokic tipped home his own rebound with 19 seconds to play to bring Denver within one, however Goga Bitadze made a pair of free throws to regain the three-point advantage.

Jokic made a driving layup to shave Orlando's lead to 120-119 with six seconds left. Jalen Suggs sank a pair of free throws with 4.1 seconds left, and Franz Wagner stole Gordon's inbounds pass and made two free throws to cap the scoring.

The Magic erased a six-point halftime deficit and seized a 79-77 lead after scoring 23 of the first 38 points of the third quarter. The Nuggets countered with a 9-5 run to end the quarter, highlighted by Julian Strawther making a pair of free throws, a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointer.

Anthony's dunk leveled the contest at 54-54 with 1:42 remaining in the second before Denver went on an 8-2 run to end the quarter. Jokic drained a 3-pointer and Jackson converted a three-point play with 1.2 seconds left to highlight the late sequence.

—Field Level Media