Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Nuggets battered the Magic, winning their fifth game in a row

The Nuggets were missing Jamal Murray (knee), Russell Westbrook (hamstring), and Peyton Watson (sprained knee), but it was no problem for them to dispatch the touring Magic. Michael Porter Jr. went on a heater, scoring on cuts and downing his long jumper. And Nikola Jokić recorded his 24th triple-double of the season.

The Nuggets turned the ball over three times in the first quarter, were burned by multiple fastbreak strikes and went down 26-25 at the end. On the way there, Jokić carried his crew, scoring 13 points on various drive-bys, a post-up through the middle and the catch-and-score near the rim. At one point, he was sharing the floor with Hunter Tyson, Jalen Pickett and Zeke Nnaji and was turning water into wine. The only other Nugget to make multiple shots in the period was Braun.

Subsequently, the defense held the visitors to 39% shooting in the second quarter. On the other side, Jokić poured in three more baskets, but it turned into the Porter quarter. The latter erupted for 16 points on the catch and dribble on 77% shooting.

At halftime, the Nuggets were ahead 59-50. They led in three key areas: paint points 30-22, fastbreak points 12-10, and second chance points 11-3. 

To follow up, a Nuggets barrage put the game out of reach by the end of the third quarter. Porter buried three extra triples, Braun scored on four cuts, and Jokić recorded nine of his 12 assists in the frame. Defensively, the team sagged off a bit from the arc to bother the lanes because the Magic are the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA. The hosts held them to 35% shooting in the quarter.

The Nuggets started the fourth quarter ahead by 25 points. Jokić, Gordon and Porter never had to check in. DeAndre Jordan, Nnaji and the other background players enjoyed garbage time.

The Nuggets won 112-90, and outscored them in paint points 60-40, fastbreak points 24-12 and second chance points 14-7. 

After the game, Jokić said, “Defense ignites our offense… We just find the way to win the games.”

Takeaways:

• Nnaji made another appearance and struggled to score from close and long range. But his defensive performance was much sharper, which got him recognition from coach Michael Malone after the game. This was his third outing in the last four in which he logged at least 21 minutes.

• Malone said Braun got the defensive player of the game award. “Franz Wagner’s been playing at a really high level, and I thought CB took that challenge head-on.”

• Jokić had a triple-double before the third quarter ended. He totaled 28 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He and Porter both made 11 baskets in 16 tries.

• Porter had 30 points for the third consecutive game. Additionally, stepping up for the team without Murray says a lot of good things about his basketball character.

• The team won five games in a row for the first time this season.

• Strawther had an off night, making only one of eight attempts and his body language wasn’t great. Malone gave him some tough love and encouragement on the sidelines.

• Gordon had seven offerings to Porter, Braun and Jokić.

• Malone said Murray’s knee “ was not in a good place [Thursday].”