Orlando face Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nugget tonight on Magic Game Day 23 in the Amway Center. Can this young Magic squad spoil AG’s return to the city he played in for seven seasons?
The tip time is shown on the Orlando Magic website as being 12:00 midnight here in the UK (7pm Eastern for our friends in Orlando).
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Game Day 23 As Orlando Face Aaron Gordon And The Denver Nuggets
Last Game
Monday 29th – Orlando Magic 96 Philadelphia 76ers 101
Magic Top Performers – Franz Wagner put in a brilliant 27 point, 6 rebound, 5 assist and 1 steal performance. He showed all his quality in shooting, playing hard on defence and initiating the offence as he took on the point guard role in adversity. Mo Bamba had his own block highlight reel. He recorded a career high six blocks, to go along with a double-double of 11 points and 17 rebounds.
Monday 29th – Denver Nuggets 120 Miami Heat 111 .
Nuggets Top Performers – The NBA’s reigning MVP; Nikola Jokic returned to the lineup, recording 24 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal. All five starters recorded double figure scoring including a 20 point performance by Aaron Gordon.
Season Records
Orlando Magic Season 2021-22 Record – 4 wins and 18 losses – last in the Eastern Conference. They have now lost 7 games consecutively and won only 1 of the last 10 played. Home record – 1 win of 9 games played. Road record 3 wins of 13 played. Points Per Game – score 99.6 whilst conceding 110.5.
Next up is a return to the Amway Center for one game on Wednesday night, against the Denver Nuggets. This game will mark the return of Aaron Gordon to Orlando. The Magic then head out on a week and a half long gruelling road trip to the West Coast, playing 5 games including the Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Denver Nuggets Season 2021-22 Record – 10 wins and 10 losses – 9th in the Western Conference. They have won 4 of the last 10 played. Their road record is 3 wins in 9 games played. Points Per Game – score 103.7 whilst conceding 103.9.
Head-To-Head – The Denver Nuggets
The head-to-head record sees Orlando trailing at 32-33 in the 65 regular season games played.
Last season saw the Magic swept 2-0 by Denver for the fifth season running. At that Denver have won the last 10 matchups. Orlando last won this fixture on March 15th 2016 by 110-116.
The teams have never met in the playoffs.
Our Opponents – The Denver Nuggets
Injury News – As with Orlando; the Denver Nuggets are decimated by injuries to important players. Jamal Murray, PJ Dozier and Michael Porter Jr are all out for extended periods. Austin Rivers and Bones Hyland are both out after falling foul of NBA COVID protocols. JaMychal Green is questionable with an elbow injury.
Projected Starting Lineup – Monte Morris (PG), Will Barton (SG), Aaron Gordon (SF), Jeff Green (PF), Nikola Jokic (C)
Coach – Michael Malone
The Orlando Magic Injury Report
ESPN is showing:
Jalen Suggs suffered a fractured right thumb late in the fourth against Philadelphia when Joel Embiid swiped at the ball as Suggs drove to the basket. The team statement says he will be out for “an extended period of time”. Surgery is not required and he will be reevaluated in two weeks time as to its healing.
E’Twaun Moore remains out with a sprained left knee.
Michael Carter-Williams is out after surgery to remove a bone fragment and repair his left ankle ligament.
Jonathan Isaac continues to be out as he rehabilitates from a left knee ACL injury that saw him miss all of last season. He is said to be making great and steady progress, but is not yet cleared for contact.
Markelle Fultz is still out after last season’s left knee ACL tear and subsequent surgery. He is taking part in more training activities, including contact work.
The Magic Lineup On Game Day 23 As Orlando Face Aaron Gordon And The Denver Nuggets
Cole Anthony is expected to return for Orlando having missed the last six games.
Projected Starting Lineup – Cole Anthony (PG), Gary Harris (SG), Franz Wagner (SF), Wendell Carter Jr (PF), Mo Bamba (C)
Available From The Bench – Chuma Okeke, Moe Wagner, RJ Hampton, Ignas Brazdeikis, Mychal Mulder and Robin Lopez
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Final Thoughts On Game Day 23 As Orlando Face Aaron Gordon And The Denver Nuggets
As with Aaron Gordon; RJ Hampton and Gary Harris will both be keen to have strong games against their former team. Both Hampton and Harris have seen recent improvements in their offensive game, especially with the long ball.
Orlando must again limit live ball turnovers. Denver are not renowned as a team that makes a lot of steals.
Taking their free throw opportunities is essential for the Magic. Denver do not foul a lot so any opportunity will be a bonus.
Denver are a team that play at a slow pace, in part to allow Jokic to get into position. They also do not put up a barrage of shots, especially from deep favouring to play closer to the basket. Denver have the 10th best field goal percentage in the League. The Magic they will need to work diligently on defence for the full shot clock.
Denver are not a great rebounding team on either end of the court. Orlando could have the opportunity with Bamba and Carter Jr to exploit this for second chance points.
Let’s Go Magic!
