The Sports Xchange
Dec 8, 2017
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Reserve Kenneth Faried scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in leading the Denver Nuggets to a 103-89 victory over the Orlando Magic Friday night.
Will Barton had 19 points and six rebounds, and Emmanuel Mudiay had 18 points. The Nuggets (14-11) snapped a four-game losing streak.
The Magic (11-16) lost forward Aaron Gordon, the team's leading scorer, in the second half with a concussion, which stemmed from a first-half collision with Denver's Gary Harris.
Harris and Malik Beasley each had 12 points. Wilson Chandler had 11 points.
Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Jonathon Simmons scored 21 points. Elfrid Payton managed 11 points and six assists.
Harris and Chandler, starters who both failed to score in the first half, combined for 19 points in the third period, pushing the Nuggets to an 81-70 lead.
The Nuggets led 49-48 at halftime, despite getting only 16 points from their starters and trailing for the first 23 minutes.
The Magic led by as any as 13 points in the first half, but Mudiay sparked the Nuggets with 11 points in the second period.
Simmons had 11 points in the first quarter and 16 by halftime. Barton had 12 points. The Denver reserves scored 33 points in the first half, including 11 each by Faried and Mudiay.
NOTES: The Magic led 25-14 after the first quarter, the 10th consecutive time the Nuggets were outscored away from home in the opening period. ... Magic veteran G Arron Afflalo started for the first time this season, replacing Evan Fournier (sprained right ankle), who is averaging 18.3 points per game. He was injured late in Wednesday's victory. ... The Nuggets also were without their second-leading scorer Friday night. C Nikola Jokic (15.5 ppg) missed his fourth consecutive game (sprained left ankle), although the Nuggets expect him back soon. They are still without veteran F Paul Millsap (left wrist ligament). ... Magic G/F Terrence Ross (right knee) missed his fifth consecutive game. ... For the Nuggets, this was game three of a six-game road trip. They play Sunday in Indiana. ... The Magic play Saturday night in Atlanta. ... The Nuggets beat the Magic by 18 points earlier this season in Denver.