DENVER _ The Orlando Magic will not reach the playoffs if they continue to struggle on defense.
Their defensive slippage reached a new low Monday.
The Magic lost to the Denver Nuggets 125-112 as the Nuggets' offense generated one easy shot attempt after another.
The Nuggets made 58.4 percent of their shots, a new high for a Magic opponent this season, and scored 76 points in the paint, another season-high by a Magic opponent.
Center Nikola Jokic scored a career-high 30 points, collected 11 rebounds and dished out five assists for Denver.
With the loss, the Magic dropped to 1-4 on their current road trip.
The Nuggets led 69-61 at halftime, but they turned the game into a rout in the third quarter as they made 13 of their 19 attempts and outscored the Magic 31-22.
Orlando cut its deficit to 113-101 with 4:57 left on a basket by Elfrid Payton.
On Denver's ensuing possession, however, Jameer Nelson blew past Aaron Gordon on the perimeter with a dribble drive and made an easy layup to score the Nuggets' 67th th and 68th points in the paint.
Payton finished with 20 points and 12 assists.
