How will the Nuggets guard Most Improved Player candidate Aaron Gordon? It's anyone's guess

The Orlando Magic were riding high the last time they faced the Denver Nuggets. Going into a Nov. 11 matchup against Denver at Pepsi Center, the Magic were 8-4 with wins over the Cavaliers, Spurs and Pelicans under their belt.

But since Denver walloped them 125-107 in mid-November, things haven’t been the same. Orlando crashed back to earth by going on a nine-game losing streak. It lost 11 of its next 14. The Magic are 11-15 entering Friday’s game against the Nuggets — dropping like a rock in the surprisingly competitive Eastern Conference.

The Magic’s schedule has a lot to do with their recent skid. Each team they faced during their nine-game losing streak is currently in line for a playoff spot. Another factor is how they’re shooting the three-pointer. Orlando was knocking down 41 percent of its threes in its first 12 games of the year. But in the Magic’s most recent 14 games, they’re hitting deep balls at a 33.8 percent clip.

Orlando is also dealing with handful of injuries. Evan Fournier, the team’s second-leading scorer, sprained his ankle in overtime of a 110-106 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. Swingman Terrence Ross has missed the last four games with a right knee injury. And Jonathan Isaac, the sixth overall pick in last summer’s draft, hasn’t played since spraining his right ankle against Denver on Nov. 11. All three are unavailable against Denver.

The Nuggets are coping with injuries of their own. Paul Millsap, who’s recovering from left wrist surgery, won’t be back until the All-Star Break at the earliest, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said this week. Nikola Jokic also will not be available against Orlando. He’ll miss his fourth-straight game with a left ankle sprain.

It’s possible Denver gets Jokic back toward the end of its six-game road swing. The Nuggets posted a video of Jokic getting testing his ankle out Friday morning.

“It was good just to have some movements, just to have the ball in (my) hands,” Jokic said, according to Altitude’s Chris Dempsey. “I still feel pain, it’s still swollen. So…it’s better but I still feel it. I do progress. Every day is better. So, hopefully it’s going to be better tomorrow.”

Jokic nearly recorded a triple-double when Denver played Orlando in November. He finished with 12 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists. During that game, Jokic hooked up with Kenneth Faried on a half-court alley-oop.

[column size=”1/2″]Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray
Gary Harris
Will Barton
Wilson Chandler
Mason Plumlee[/column]
[column size=”1/2″]Magic Projected Starters

Elfrid Payton
Aaron Afflalo
Jonathan Simmons
Aaron Gordon
Nikola Vucevic[/column]