Orlando @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 2, 2019 ) Denver 91, Orlando 87

The Denver Nuggets look to improve to 4-0 on a five-game homestand when they face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Nuggets have beaten Portland, Oklahoma City and New York to improve to 11-3 at home this season.

Orlando traditionally has issues in the Mile High City and has lost 14 of its past 16 visits, and it arrives for this contest on the second end of a back-to-back after losing 109-102 to the host Utah Jazz on Tuesday. "It doesn’t get any tougher than that with the altitude, facing two great teams and facing two defensive-minded teams," shooting guard Evan Fournier said of playing the Jazz and Nuggets on consecutive nights. "But that’s what we need right now. We need to play in tough environments because it will make us better." Well-rested Denver was sluggish in Sunday's 111-105 victory over New York as it possibly took the lowly Knicks lightly before closing out the triumph. "We just stuck with it," Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray told reporters. "We know how good of a team we are. I think we just took it to another level in terms of our intensity and focus, especially in those last seven minutes."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Orlando), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE MAGIC (12-15): Orlando has lost four of its last five games as it makes its third stop on a four-game road trip. The Magic struggled from 3-point range by making 7-of-35 against the Jazz after making a season-best 17 (in 34 attempts) during Sunday's 130-119 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. "The biggest discrepancy is we had wide open shots," Orlando coach Steve Clifford said after the loss to Utah. "We've got to make them."

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (17-8): Star center Nikola Jokic recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds against the Knicks and is averaging 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists during the last six games. Versatile Will Barton has also been faring well and is averaging 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and four assists over the past four contests. "He's been tremendous," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters of Barton. "He's our second-leading rebounder (6.8 per game) as our starting small forward. He gets to the cup. He puts pressure on the defense. His playmaking and he plays for his teammates. ... What's he not doing?"

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Nuggets have won the past seven meetings with the Magic and 12 of the last 14.

2. Orlando PG D.J. Augustin is averaging 19.5 points over the past two games after averaging just 2.5 over the previous two outings.

3. Denver PF Paul Millsap (quadriceps) is listed as questionable after missing the previous two games.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 117, Magic 111