On January 20th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Nuggets visiting the Magic. The two teams were locked in a seesaw battle, with the Magic able to take some initiative and even lead by as much as 10 points at one point. However, Murray and Jokic led the team to turn the tide, and they further widened the gap in the following quarters, with the fourth quarter quickly losing suspense. Ultimately, the Nuggets defeated the Magic 113-100, securing their second consecutive victory while maintaining their position as fourth in the West.
The Nuggets have been in excellent form recently, but they initially found themselves in a passive situation. However, the team's multi-point scoring and the outstanding performance of Murray and Jokic helped them reverse the situation. They took control of the game in the third quarter, finishing with a 16-point lead. In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets extended their lead, allowing Jokic to rest early, and the game lost its suspense early, resulting in a 13-point victory for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets' outside shooting was not impressive this time, only making 7 three-pointers throughout the game. According to current league trends, such a performance would be difficult to win a game. Surprisingly, the Nuggets achieved a big win. This is largely due to their dominance in the paint, with Jokic anchoring the team, giving them an absolute advantage inside and ultimately helping them secure the victory. The Nuggets shot 40 out of 77, with a field goal percentage of 51.9%, encountering little trouble.
Jokic played exceptionally well, playing only 30 minutes, shooting 7 out of 9, and recording a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. He did not need to exert himself too much, as the game had already lost its suspense. Jokic is pleased with this situation and does not wish to score more himself. This marks his third consecutive game with a triple-double, his 18th of the season, ranking first in the league. Additionally, Murray scored 19 points, Braun had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Porter Jr. contributed 15 points, and Westbrook added 12 points and 6 assists.
The Magic, considered a dark horse, has fallen into a state of depression, somewhat losing their way recently. After losing to the Nuggets, they have suffered three consecutive defeats, dropping to seventh place in the East. Banchero's recent form has been somewhat mediocre, playing 29 minutes, shooting 4 out of 16, and only scoring 10 points. The team attempted a whopping 102 shots but only made 38, with poor shooting ultimately leading to their defeat.