If the Magic can mold Isaac and Bamba into players similarly effective to these three, they'll be on to something.

Never Google returns to the Mile High City.

Keepin' the seat warm for Barton, who seems to be in a best case time-frame in terms of returning from an injury that required surgery. He should be back in the lineup by around December 15th.

For context with regard to the statistical aspects of this piece, please open this link: TPM™

Nuggets vs Orlando: Home cookin' following Home cookin; The toughest B2B of the season for an already slow, lethargic Nuggets team.

When last these two teams squared off in game 25 of last season, the Nuggets (lap) enjoyed double figure TPM contributions from three players led by Malik Beasley's +19. Two players were in the red for that encounter led by Plumlee -5, en route to a 103-89 Victory. The Nuggets were without both Jokic and Millsap on that night but got a 20-10 2D from the since-departed Kenneth Faried and some Will Barton stat-stuffery in the form of a 19-6-5-4-2 line. Strangely, tonight they'll have the services of the first two but not the last two players.

As for this game, as was the case last year, Orlando is led by Vucevic, Gordon and Fournier. Ross has stepped in nicely when Isaac was down with injury. The aforementioned Isaac has shown flashes of defensive dominance but has yet to put it all together, and Bamba is still largely a highly touted though unknown commodity, if there can be such a thing. I have no unearthly idear who Iwundu is and former Nugget DJ Augustin rounds out the starting five for the Magic.

Every game played the night after Thanksgiving stuffing should be considered a trap game. Don't trip on the tryptophan.

Prediction: Denver (lap) 117 - Orlando 105

Go Nuggets!

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If you are viewing the pre-game version of the TPM piece; and you enjoy Gonzo-basketball reporting, I invite you to please join me after the game where the same link will lead you to the post game version. In it, all of the disjointed/unsightly blanks below will be filled, complete with data/analysis and more snark than "Snarknado VI: Snakenado", which I'm told is about a pessimistic, albino, black mamba who emerges from micro-bursts to torment the people of Los Angeles with shady tweets.

There be monsters; shameless, personal plug alert! (by permission of Denver Stiffs): If you are in the market for clothing, featuring the four major Denver sports franchises as well s CU, please open this link in a new tab to see if there is anything you are interested in. You don't have to order from the link of course if you are in the Denver Metro area, as I'm more than happy to meet up with you (please refrain from bringing rotten tomatoes), drastically lowering the cost, as Poshmark takes a healthy cut as well as shipping & handling. Thanks in advance!

Unique, hard to find, one of a kind and custom gear of your favorite team

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And now what none of you come here for; how about some basketball nerdery?!?!

(After these messages... Er Nicknames)

Orlando Magic Roster

Denver Nuggets Roster

Update: MPJ and I.T. are sleeping on Ice, awaiting intel as to when their services will be required. Rookie Jared Vanderbilt will have to wait to make his rookie debut until long after R.O.Y. candidate Thomas Welsh, as he recovers from an actual injury. Torrey Craig is doubtful with a sore hammy. Finally, Barton had successful surgery on his abductor and hip. He will be evaluated for return in mid-December. As for Orlando, No injuries have been reported by OPP.

Data:

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TPM™ Game 19 ORL

Jamal Murray: +25

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +11

Gary Harris: +12

Malik Beasley: +3

Torrey Craig: -2

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0

Will Barton: N/A

Juancho Hernangomez: -4

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +11

Trey Lyles: +21

Tyler Lydon: +0

Nikola Jokic: +19

Mason Plumlee: +16

Thomas Welsh: +3

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Total TPM™

Jamal Murray: 19 games +273

Isaiah Thomas: 0 games +0

Monte Morris: 19 games +238

Gary Harris: 19 games +291

Malik Beasley: 19 games +75

Torrey Craig: 14 games -7

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: 5 games +0

Will Barton: 2 games +33

Juancho Hernangomez: 18 games +34

Michael Porter Jr.: 0 games +0

Jared Vanderbilt: 0 games +0

Paul Millsap: 19 games +161

Trey Lyles: 19 games +162

Tyler Lydon: 6 games +4

Nikola Jokic: 19 games +366

Mason Plumlee: 19 games +126

Thomas Welsh: 4 games+2

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +14.37

Isaiah Thomas: N/A

Monte Morris: +12.53

Gary Harris: +15.32

Malik Beasley: +3.95

Torrey Craig: -0.50

DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell: +0.00

Will Barton: +16.50

Juancho Hernangomez: +1.89

Michael Porter Jr.: N/A

Jared Vanderbilt: N/A

Paul Millsap: +8.47

Trey Lyles: 8.53

Tyler Lydon: +0.67

Nikola Jokic: +19.26

Mason Plumlee: +6.63

Thomas Welsh: +0.55

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 11:

*Credit DomP on the Spreadsheet. It's as if my (nerdy) baby (TPM™) learned to speak

Analysis:

Qtr1- The Nuggets trot out their second iteration of the post-Craig (RIP), injury-replacement starting five, consisting of Morris, Harris, Juancho, Millsap & Jokic. The Magic counter with Augustin, Fournier, Iwundu, Gordon & Vucevic. Nuggets legend and all time 3D maestro Fat Lever is in the house with the color commentary tonight. I've been following his twitter commentary this season and by all accounts he's likely excited to be able to see Denver's current 3D Machine, Big Honey, up close and personal. Jokic is sporting his freshly-shaved Eric Montross do; a sign of the apocalypse to all comers. I'm going on record as saying these royal-blue, Mile High City jerseys the good guys are sporting tonight are my all-time favorites. LOVE that Cardinal trim! Millsap and Jokic have come to play tonight and are showing great chemistry on offense (and in the media). Harris is creating some fantastic looks but simply can't convert. Meanwhile, Orlando is all perimeter and not converting either. Denver leads 9-5 with 'Sap heading to the stripe after they return from their first break at 6:31.

Jokic already has 5 boards and 4 dimes and while he's not looking to shoot, he's orchestrating the offense beautifully. THIS is how the offense needs to be run from the get-go EVERY night. Sets are for stiffs! They've also gotten seven straight stops so yes, defense CAN come from offense. Morris is first off the pine for Denver at 5:50. "You reach I teach" declareth Lever. Plumlee is next off the bench for the Nuggets at 4:03 in what is now a tie game. Harris can't buy a bucket and could use a blow. Iwundo is the first player for either team with foul trouble, as he earns his second. Bamba looks to have grown even more since his 6'11.5 draft-report measurement. Perhaps it's just the Bobby Humphrey, high top hair do. Lyles is in for Denver with just over two to play and converts on two of his first three shots, prior to drawing a foul. Beasley is seemingly the final rotational player to be inserted with seconds remaining. Denver is paced in TPM by Millsap +7 as they lead 21-19 after one.

Qtr2- The ball movement and movement without the ball has been reminiscent of last years Nuggets. Is it already December 15th? Ross is delivering from distance for Orlando in his initial minutes. Lyles is the first in double digits for Denver. Isaac got inadvertently smacked in the kisser and he's feeling it. I hate to see that. Bamba must be 7'3 with hair included in the measurement and with wings of an F-15. He's gonna be a problem in the Eastern conference for years to come. Fat tells it like it is when Marlowe asks if the altitude effects your shot in Denver; "No, that's just a brick." Truth! Denver leads by three at 6:34. Ross is keeping the Magic in this one. Harris is now 0-7 from the floor. The starting five for Denver is reassembled at 5:15, up four. Isaac is back in which is good to see. Gary finally sinks one from distance on a brilliant set-up from The Joker.

One thing's for certain, Orlando still leads the league in hair, despite the departure of Payton last year. The two man game of Jokic/Harris is yielding fruitful returns, as the lead is up to 10 at 2:55. If Jokic ever shoots the rock (he's 0-1 by my count thus-far) he has a very real shot at a 3D tonight but unlike in past games, he's making the correct read on nearly all plays more-so than being passive. Malone wisely subs out 'Sap with under a minute to play. Juancho drills one from distance after a nice pump-fake (new tool?) and that's a wrap on the first half. The Nuggets are paced in TPM by Millsap/Lyles +10, Jokic +11 & Murray +12 as they lead 54-42 at the half.

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Qtr3- The 41 points allowed by Denver in the first half was a season low and I still contend that while the D has been very good, the bulk of the heavy lifting is being done by forcing Orlando to blow energy on the other end. Juancho and 'Sap make three in double digits for the Nuggets. For just the second time all season, Jokic and his crazy ass candy-apple red shoes, loosely match with his uni. Make no mistake, this is a talented Orlando Magic team but styles make fights and they just don't seem to match up well with Denver, who leads by 13 at 8:17. I can not wait until the night where the Avs/Nuggets don't play at the same time so I can take them both in. Fournier is 0-7 from the field, 0-5 from the arc and it appears that he's daydreaming about that Sushi-Bay deliciousness he's having delivered after the game.

I'm not gonna lie, this could be a sub-par piece for me tonight for precisely the same reason, though I've got Sushi Den (#North-Side) waiting for me post-game. Jokic has a 2D with a line of 6-10-10 at 5:20, with a 14 point lead. He earns his fourth foul and must take a seat at 3:36. Murray is the fourth Nuggets player to reach double digits in scoring. If Terrence Ross weren't in action tonight this one would have been over at half time. As is, it's a 14 point lead for the Nuggets with 3:02 to play. Harris has a noticeable limp and is not looking to be at full strength at the moment. Denver is paced in TPM by Millsap +11, Harris +12, Lyles/Murray +15 & Jokic +19, as they lead 80-68 after three.

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Qtr4- The Timing bug had too much turkey says Marlowe, which explains why it's not been showing up since the first period. Bamba hits one from distance. If he can become consistent there, look the fuck out. This game has the look of yet another 3D squandered by the scoreboard and please do not mistake this for a complaint. Not coincidentally this seems to occur when Jokic is engaged, resulting in said numbers and a large lead, which currently sits at 17 with 8:46 remaining. Plumlee makes five in double figures for the Nuggets. A gorgeous, Jokic-esque reverse water-polo pass by Plumlee gets the canned crowd doing the can-can. It results in a three point play for Lyles.

It's all Denver as the lead is 23 with 7:09 to play. Murray is currently +32 in box-score plus minus! IMHO this has been his finest game of the season if not his career and he scored 48 points vs Boston earlier this year. His current line sits at 16-5-6 with some excellent D played tonight for the most part. It's officially recycling time as Welsh checks in at 4:46 of a 29 point game. Lydon, Craig and DAP are in shortly after and my work is done here. Denver is paced in TPM by Morris/Millsap +11, Harris +12, Plumlee +16, Jokic +19, Lyles +21 & Murray +25 as they win going away, 112-87.

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Final Thoughts: Sushi time for Evan and me. True to my eye test, Dr Mares reports an ankle sprain for Gary.

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The Nuggets Win!

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