Mosley Breaks Down Defensive Lapses, Banchero’s Grit, and the Nuggets’ Backbreaking Runs
After a game that saw the Orlando Magic jump out to a 14-point lead before watching it slip away against the defending champion Denver Nuggets, head coach Jamahl Mosley didn’t mince words. He acknowledged the good, owned the bad, and pointed to the moments that turned the tide - particularly a second-quarter stretch that saw the Nuggets flip the game on its head.
Defensive Missteps Open the Door for Denver
With just under seven minutes left in the second quarter, the Nuggets caught fire. But Mosley was quick to point out that Orlando helped fan the flames.
“There were a couple of defensive mental lapses,” he said. “Open shots, quick shots on our end that led to their leak-outs and transition breaks.”
It wasn’t just about the Nuggets getting hot - though they did hit some wild shots, including a few banked-in prayers and buzzer-beaters. It was about the Magic losing their grip on the basics: floor balance, shot selection, and transition defense. Denver punished every mistake.
Jamal Murray, in particular, made Orlando pay in transition. Mosley noted that a few long rebounds and poor offensive spacing opened the door for Murray to knock down a pair of threes in the open floor. Add in a big shot from Julian Strawther off a crossmatch, and suddenly the Nuggets had flipped momentum.
“This game was going to come down to concepts and communication,” Mosley said. “And we had a few lapses in that stretch.”
Late Push Falls Short
Despite the second-quarter stumble, Orlando didn’t roll over. The Magic clawed their way back to within six in the fourth quarter, showing the kind of resilience that’s become a trademark of this young squad.
They played fast, got stops, and forced Denver into tough possessions. But every time they closed the gap, the Nuggets had an answer - and one of the biggest came after a sideline out-of-bounds play that saw Nikola Jokić draw a double-team and zip a pass to the corner for a clutch three from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
“That one hurt,” Mosley said. “We did a great job going after Joker, making it tough, but he makes a hell of a play. That’s what he does.”
Banchero’s All-Around Brilliance - Even at Less Than 100%
Paolo Banchero recorded his third career triple-double, and he did it while still working his way back from a groin injury that had sidelined him earlier this month.
“He just kept being aggressive,” Mosley said. “They were loading up on him, sending bodies, but he made the right reads and kept finding ways to get his teammates involved.”
Banchero’s ability to read the defense and make the right play - whether it was a pass, a drive, or a shot - continues to evolve. He’s still shaking off some rust, but his impact was undeniable.
“This is only his fifth game back,” Mosley added. “He’s still finding his rhythm, but he’s doing it while making winning plays.”
Fatigue? Not an Excuse
With the In-Season Tournament and a tough travel schedule behind them, it would’ve been easy for the Magic to blame fatigue. But Mosley shut that down immediately.
“No, I don’t think that’s an excuse,” he said. “We came out strong.
The ball was moving, we were defending. We just had some mental lapses, and that’s what we need to clean up.”
That early 14-point lead showed what this team is capable of. The key, as Mosley emphasized, is sustaining it - especially against a team like Denver that doesn’t need much of an opening to take over.
Battling Denver’s Paint Defense - and Jokic’s Vision
Despite Denver’s reputation for walling off the paint, Orlando still managed 62 points inside and earned 26 trips to the free-throw line. The Magic attacked the rim with purpose - but Denver’s execution on the other end was relentless.
Jokić, as always, was the engine. His ability to read the floor and make pinpoint passes from the center spot continues to be one of the most unique weapons in the league.
“Every cut is live with him,” Mosley said. “Our communication has to be sharp. He and Jamal force you to be perfect on every possession.”
Young Guns Step Up
Two young players - Jett Howard and Jase Richardson - got their chances, and Mosley liked what he saw.
“Jase was aggressive, getting downhill, picking up full court, doing all the little things,” Mosley said. “Jet attacked the basket, got to the line - that’s what we want from these guys. Play your minutes with confidence and aggression.”
Both rookies showed flashes of what they can bring to the table, and their energy was a welcome spark off the bench.
Bottom Line: The Magic showed fight, flashed potential, and gave the Nuggets a scare. But against a team with the kind of firepower and execution Denver brings to the table, even a few lapses can be the difference. For Orlando, the challenge now is consistency - and continuing to grow from games like this.
The effort was there. The lessons are clear. Now it’s about turning those into wins.