Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic Grades: Denver Nuggets 125, Orlando Magic 112

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) pressure Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 112-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) pressure Orlando Magic forward Serge Ibaka (7) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Lakers won 112-95. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Nuggets ran the Orlando Magic out of the gym with a blitzing offense in the third quarter, taking advantage of a lifeless Magic defense.

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Nuggets39303125125

The Orlando Magic watched the Denver Nuggets run past them to end the second quarter. A quick 6-0 run with Emmanuel Mudiay and Will Barton racing past to feed bigs in the post or finish themselves set a tone for what the second half would be as the Nuggets took an eight-point lead to the locker room.

The Magic had to get their defense in order in the locker room. But they have not done that for a month. There was no getting it in order to start the second half. The Nuggets came out running and put the Magic down defensively.

They quickly extended their eight-point lead to double digits and coasted to a 125-112 win at the Pepsi Center on Monday. And the score was never that close.

Denver attacked using the pick and roll and took advantage of a lackadaisical Orlando effort. The team even did a nearly full line change early in the first quarter. The lackadaisical defensive effort continued and was pervasive through the second half.

After giving up 69 points in the first half, the Magic proceeded to give up 31 points in the third quarter. And the game was virtually over.

Nikola Jokic toyed with the Magic’s bigs in the post. Emmanuel Mudiay drove hard on the centers in the pick and roll and picked the team apart with secondary assists as the Nuggets moved it quickly from the big to the weak side. Orlando had no defense and no energy or physicality to stop it.

The Magic were unable to get things back under control. Especially after their shots from the first half stopped going down. Orlando tried to let its offense carry the team once again. And once again the offense was nowhere near enough. Not without a modicum of defense.

The Nuggets have been good defensively, but they met very little resistance Monday in a disappointing effort that guaranteed a losing road trip for the Magic.

B. <strong><a rel=. PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON

C-. <strong><a rel=. PF. Orlando Magic. SERGE IBAKA

B-. <strong><a rel=. C. Orlando Magic. BISMACK BIYOMBO

SG. Orlando Magic. JODIE MEEKS. C. The pressure is going to be squarely on <strong><a rel=

9th West. DENVER NUGGETS. A-. The Denver Nuggets have been on an absolute tear offensively. That continued as they were simply unconscious from the floor most of the evening. And it was not that they were making tough shots. They were making those. But they were getting good shots. The Magic offered no resistance and the Nuggets picked them apart.<p>The final numbers: Denver shot 58.4 percent from the floor and dished out 33 assists. The Nuggets had 76 points in the paint. That is 76 points in the paint of 125 points. Denver just attacked the glass and dominated.</p><p>Nikola Jokic posted a career high with 30 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Emmanuel Mudiay had a career-high 13 assists. Denver had the ball moving and got the defense it needed in the third quarter to put a stamp on this game early.</p>. 16-23