Nuggets-Magic Instant Reactions: Nikola Jokic passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in career assists in another Denver win

The Nuggets outscored the Orlando Magic 43-22 in the 2nd quarter and Jamal Murray tallied 32 points as Denver won 126-115 to push its winning streak to 6 games.

Nikola Jokic finished with a triple double — 23 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists — and passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most assists for a center in NBA history.

Here’s what else stood out from the game.

The bench surges in the 1st half

The Nuggets got outscored 32-25 in the 1st quarter but it was Denver‘s bench that helped the Nuggets re-take control of the game in the 2nd. Jonas Valanciunas was a beast inside and finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr., who was questionable for the game with an illness, led all Nuggets bench scorers with 12 points.

Overall, the Nuggets were a -6 in the non-Jokic minutes, but the 2nd unit did their job, especially in the 1st half.

Jalen Pickett breakout game

This was arguably Jalen Pickett‘s best game of his career. He barely played in the 1st half tonight but barely came off the floor in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Pickett was steady, reliable, and aggressive. He set teammates up and the Nuggets offense still fired on all cylanders even without two starters and Peyton Watson (right trunk contusion.

Pickett finished with 9 points, 7 assists and 0 turnovers and was a +17 in 24 minutes off the bench.