Thanks to the great Anthony Black, the Magic took down Denver!

After the game completely missed the day before against Charlotte then a complicated first half last night against Denver, the light suddenly came back on at the Amway Center. Along with Desmond Bain and Wendell Carter Jr., that is Anthony Black who proved to be the big man of the match, with his 38 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, but also for his “clutch” actions at the end of the match, when he had to oppose the Murray-Jokić duo (24 and 34 points).

Quickly put into trouble, the Floridians could count on Anthony Black’s thunderous start. Building on his performance the previous day, the guard scored 13 of his team’s first 17 points to lead Orlando (17-12). The run was short-lived as Denver quickly regained control of the game. Jamal Murray scored three baskets, including a 3-pointer, before seeing Peyton Watson make it 12-2 with 2+1 (19-24).

Orlando could count on reinforcements from its second unit to raise the score, between the relays of Jonathan Isaac, Jace Richardson and Tristan Da Silva to pick up the score (38-38), while Nikola Jokic in turn did not take his responsibility. In his style, the Serbian pivot multiplied the good choices on offense to spur a 15-2 run before the break and put the Nuggets back within good distance (48-62).

Anthony Black and Desmond Bane through the mouse hole

On the brink of a shootout when the margin increased to +17 in favor of the franchise from the Rockies (53-70), Orlando came back from hell thanks to the rise of Wendell Carter Jr., the author of 13 points in the third quarter to accompany the red-hot Anthony Black. Enough to keep the suspense 12 minutes from time, even if Denver still seemed to be holding on, with contributions from Spencer Jones and Tim Hardaway Jr. to punish from a distance (84-93).

The Nuggets simply did not foresee the three minutes of madness that the Magic would experience to go on an 18-4 run and turn the tables (105-101).

Desmond Bain started the attack with 2+1, Noah Penda contributed two valuable disposals before allowing Anthony Black to make his mark again, with a dunk followed by a triple in the corner after being well served by Paolo Banchero. The game changed at that point for Denver, who held their ground by scoring important baskets to come back and regain the lead. It’s just that the Magic never gave up, returning to the attack every time as the trio of Bain-Banchero-Carter Jr., who fought to keep Orlando in the game, until Anthony Black’s pass, again by him, on Nikola Jokic before going 2+1 (121-120).

Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic responded in a row, but floating Tristan Da Silva and 4/4 shots from Desmond Bain allowed the home team to stay on course, until the last shot that Jamal Murray missed against Anthony Black who gave everything until the last second and was rewarded with this prestigious victory (127-126).

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Nikola Jokić is getting closer to Oskar Roberston. It’s almost become a habit since Nikola Jokic recorded his 16th triple-double in 31 games this season last night, reaching the symbolic mark before the end of the third quarter against the Magic. If his final performance of 34 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists wasn’t enough for Denver to win in Florida, the Serbian is closing in on Oscar Robertson and his 181 career triple-doubles with 180 on the clock as of that night. Will it manage to return to the height of the “Big O” before 2026? He has two trips left in Miami and then in Toronto.

– Heroic Anthony Black. Already the day before, he was one of the only survivors. But what about his performance of the night, his best NBA career, with a thunderous start, a third quarter in which he kept his team at arm’s length, and this final marked by this three, this cut, this 2+1 (failed) and the last save of Jamal Murray, who failed to steal the ball? With a career-high 38 points on 7/11 from 3-point range, Anthony Black is hitting a milestone, and these Magic really need it in the absence of Franz Wagner…

– Wendell Carter Jr. is risky. Magic interior was among those who gave the locals hope in the third quarter. His end of the match, however, was less inspired, as he was guilty of two big fouls on Nikola Jokić that could have cost the match! On a missed layup by Anthony Black, he fouled him in the back, then on a rebound at 124-125, hooked the Serb’s arm and sent him to the line as he left the game with six fouls, two actions Denver had to contest. In the end, Orlando won at the wire and his post 5 must have been relieved!

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.