Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 116, Denver Nuggets 110
The Orlando Magic took the lead in the first quarter and buckled down to hold off the Denver Nuggets behind some season-best games from their players.
116. 38. 110. 73. Final
The Orlando Magic could not lay an egg like they did Saturday against the Portland Trail blazers. That was just not something that could be in the cards for them. They needed a game with energy and effort and execution.
For the most part Tuesday, Orlando got all three. The Magic were quick to pounce on the Nuggets with some fantastic ball movement and strong defense. Orlando opened up an 18-point lead and seemed poised to cruise to a victory, finding the right man and moving the ball extremely well.
The Nuggets made their run and cut the lead down to three. But the Magic had a response and brought the lead back out, making some key stops and matching the Nuggets the rest of the way.
It might have been a shaky way to end the game, but the Magic buckled down at the critical moment and gutted out the win, something they have not always been able to do.
That is something at least. And the Magic put in some season-best performances in the process.
<p><strong><a href=. SF. Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER. A
VICTOR OLADIPO. B+. <p>With the Orlando Magic down <strong><a href=. SG. Orlando Magic
C. Orlando Magic. JASON SMITH. B+. <p><strong><a href=
PG. Orlando Magic. BRANDON JENNINGS. B. <p><strong><a href=
28-40. 10th West. DENVER NUGGETS. C+. <p>The Denver Nuggets have to be asking themselves what went wrong on this Florida road trip. They were on a four-game win streak heading to the Sunshine State and then dropped both games in somewhat similar fashion.</p><p>Denver never really got out of the gate well in this one. The Magic were in firm control from the very beginning. They made a comeback and scored 64 points in the second half, but could not make any stops. Once the Magic took the lead in the first quarter they never let go.</p><p>Denver got a good balance of contributions, but got virtually nothing from Kenneth Faried and were scrambling most of the game to create the pace they need. Their half-court execution was not particularly strong. They just arrived too late in this one.</p>