Paolo Banchero’s first career triple-double was a crucial factor in the Orlando Magic’s impressive comeback win against the Denver Nuggets, with a final score of 122-120 during Friday’s NBA action. Banchero achieved a personal milestone and played a pivotal role in the game’s outcome, especially with his late free throws.
Despite trailing by 18 points in the third quarter, the Magic, plagued with injuries, rallied back. Banchero, who scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists, exemplified the team’s resilience. He notably made four free throws in the final 35 seconds, embodying the team’s determination not to succumb to an easy defeat.
“Just the power of just positive energy and just pushing each other,” Banchero said. “We just told each other, ‘We’re all we got. We’re going to live with the result, whatever it is, but we’re not just going to roll over and let these guys blow us out.’”
A critical moment came when Moritz Wagner intercepted a pass from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, setting up Banchero to draw a foul and sink the decisive free throws. The Nuggets, aiming for a last-second win, couldn’t capitalize as Jamal Murray’s shot rimmed out despite a play designed for him or Nikola Jokic.
“Sometimes, we miss,” Jokic said. “Sometimes, we make.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Updates
The Nuggets, coming off a dramatic win against the Golden State Warriors, showed signs of fatigue, allowing Orlando to capitalize. Coach Michael Malone of the Nuggets highlighted the team’s defensive struggles in the third quarter as a key factor in their loss.
“We lost this game in the third quarter,” Malone said. “It’s back-to-back nights where our third-quarter defense has been just completely nonexistent. … As I told our guys, whatever you’re doing at halftime, it’s not working — individually and collectively. Disappointing outcome.”
Jalen Suggs contributed significantly to the Magic’s victory with a career-high 27 points, emphasizing the team’s collective spirit and determination. The Magic were without several key players, including Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter Jr., underscoring the depth of their roster.
“It speaks volumes to the character that we have on this team,” Suggs said. “Not only next man up, but the confidence to trust and believe in each other. We weren’t walking out there like, ‘Oh, let’s just get it over with and go back home.’ We wanted to go win the game.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Updates
Jokic led the Nuggets with 29 points, but their challenge remains in integrating various talents into a cohesive unit. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon also voiced the need to find the right balance in their offensive approach.
“It’s tough, because we do have a lot of guys who game-to-game, it could be a different hot hand,” Porter said. “That’s a blessing and a curse, sometimes. Maybe the answer is staggering a couple starters with the bench unit. I don’t really know the answer. I do feel like there are times in the game where Aaron (Gordon) doesn’t touch the ball for an extended period of time. Or myself … It’s definitely a tough balance to find.
“That’s really up to the coaches. That’s their job. That’s not our job. So we just do what we’re told, try to space the floor the right way, play through big fella. That’s all we can do. As the season goes on, we’ll continue to get better and better at finding that balance.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Updates
Both teams are looking forward to their next games, with the Magic set to face the Atlanta Hawks at home and the Nuggets hosting the Detroit Pistons.
