Jokic sets the career record for assists by a center as the Nuggets beat the Magic 126-115

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds to become the career assists leader among centers, and the streaking Denver Nuggets beat the Orlando Magic 126-115 on Thursday night.

Jokic, who has 13 triple-doubles this season, entered Thursday six assists behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had 5,660. Jokic passed him with 6:26 left in the first half when he fed Jalen Pickett for a 3-pointer.

Jamal Murray scored 20 of his 32 points in a game-turning second quarter for Denver, which won its sixth straight.

Paolo Banchero had 26 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his third career triple-double and first since March 20, 2024.

The Magic, already missing leading scorer Franz Wagner due to a sprained left ankle, played without Jalen Suggs, who sustained a left hip contusion in the NBA Cup semifinal loss to New York on Saturday night.

Wendell Carter Jr. also scored 26 points for Orlando.

Murray, who has never been named to an All-Star team in his eight seasons, is averaging a career-best 25.2 points this season and 28.1 in December, which includes a 52-point game at Indiana two weeks ago.

He made 5 of 6 3-point attempts in the second quarter after the Nuggets fell behind by 14.

Denver had 33 total points midway through the period and went on a 35-7 run in the final 6:26 of the half to turn a 47-33 deficit into a 68-54 halftime lead.

It was 81-60 a few minutes into the third quarter before Orlando rallied to cut it to 92-83. Cam Johnson, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, hit a 3-pointer out of a timeout that spurred another Nuggets surge.

The Magic got within 121-115 with 1:32 remaining but Johnson hit a corner 3-pointer to seal it.

Mavericks: At Utah on Saturday night.

Nuggets: Host the Houston Rockets for the second time in six days on Saturday afternoon.

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Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valančiūnas, left, looks to pass the ball as Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, looks to pass the ball as Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze, front right, and guard Noah Penda defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front, drives to the basket as Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, right, looks to pass the ball under pressure from Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday made his first major appointment of a woman to the Holy See hierarchy, promoting Italian Sister Alessandra Smerilli to head the Vatican office responsible for migrants, the environment and development.

Smerilli, an economist, is currently the No. 2 in the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. As prefect, she replaces the retiring Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who turns 80 this month.

With the appointment of Smerilli, Leo appears to be following suit of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who made a point of promoting women to top-level management positions within the Holy See as part of his response to calls by women for greater decision-making roles in the church.

But Leo too is following Francis’ lead by simultaneously naming Cardinal Fabio Baggio as a “pro-prefect” of the office, where he is currently undersecretary.

The dual nominations recognize that sometimes the role of a Vatican department head requires being an ordained priest and cardinal.

Baggio was also given the mandate to head up the Vatican’s Borgo Laudato Si environmental educational center, at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome.

The Catholic Church reserves the priesthood for men, and women have long complained of a second-class status despite carrying out the lion’s share of the church’s work running schools, hospitals and passing the faith onto younger generations.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

FILE - Sister Alessandra Smerilli, secretary general of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, attends a press conference at the Vatican, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)