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Nuggets 120, Magic 112
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
ORLANDO — Forwards Kenneth Faried scored 26 points and Wilson Chandler 21 in leading the Denver Nuggets to a 120-112 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
Reserve center J.J Hickson had 20 points and nine rebounds in just 22 minutes, giving the Nuggets (28-36) a big spark early in the fourth period.
The Magic (19-47) were led by guard Arron Afflalo, who had 24 points. Center Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Guard Jameer Nelson had 19 points and nine assists.
It was the second time this season the Nuggets had a big night offensively against the Magic. They won 120-97 earlier this season in Denver.
The Magic never got closer than five points in the fourth quarter, closing to 110-105 when Nelson hit his four 3-point basket of the game. Denver reserve Aaron Brooks responded with his own 3-pointer in the next possession and the Nuggets were never challenged again.
The Nuggets scored 33 points in the third period when they hit five 3-point baskets, including one that became a four-point play for Chandler. The Magic got a spark from Nelson early in the third when he scored eight points in a three-minute stretch, giving them a 62-61 lead
The Nuggets, who made 10 of 22 3-point shots, led by 11 points going into the fourth period.
The Nuggets led 52-50 at intermission, closing the second period with a 25-10 run that was sparked by Lawson and Chandler.
Vucevic led everyone in the first half with 16 points and seven rebounds, but he did most of his work in the first quarter. The Magic led by as many as 13 points early in the second period.
The Nuggets tied the game at 48 when Chandler hit a 3-pointer . They led 51-50 when Lawson completed a 3-point play, then stole the inbounds pass in the final seconds to set up Faried, who made one of his two free throws.
In Monday’s loss in Milwaukee, the Magic led by 18 points in the first half, but saw their early lead disappear.
NOTES: The Magic have a particular interest in the fortunes of the Nuggets this season because the Nuggets owe them a first-round draft pick this summer, stemming from the multi-team trade of Dwight Howard in 2012. The Magic will be getting the lesser of the Nuggets and the Knicks picks (the Knicks owe theirs to Denver). … Magic PF Kyle O’Quinn got his third consecutive start (and his only three this season) Wednesday. He averaged 9.5 points and 6 rebounds in just 19 minutes in his first two starts. … Nuggets G Ty Lawson has been on a roll since returning from a rib injury, averaging 24 points in the previous five games. F Kenneth Faried came into the game averaging an impressive 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in his previous six games. … The Nuggets are 3-24 this season in games in which they scored fewer than 100 points.
