Surging Knicks rout Nuggets for 5th straight win

Field Level Media|published: Thu 25th January, 22:19 2024

Jan 25, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Jericho Sims (45) controls the ball against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. credits: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

OG Anunoby scored 26 points and Jalen Brunson added 21 as the New York Knicks led wire-to-wire and extended their winning streak to five games with a 122-84 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Thursday.

Quentin Grimes matched his season high with 19 points, and Julius Randle added 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists for New York, which held the defending NBA champions to a season-low point total and improved to 11-2 over its last 13 games.

Anunoby chipped in a season-high six steals for the Knicks, who entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 98-66 lead. Denver rested its starters for the entire final period.

Nikola Jokic provided the bulk of Denver's offense with 31 points along with 11 rebounds. Aaron Gordon scored 12 points for the Nuggets, who went 2-3 on their five-game road trip.

Denver shot 40.5 percent from the field and 5 of 26 (19.2 percent) from 3-point range.

New York won its third straight meeting against the Nuggets after connecting on 52.9 percent of its shots, including 15 of 38 (39.5 percent) from beyond the arc. Donte DiVincenzo scored 16 for the Knicks, while Miles McBride added 13.

Denver trailed 33-21 after the Knicks shot 63.2 percent from the field in the first quarter. Jokic had 13 points in the period, while his teammates combined for eight points on 3-of-15 shooting.

The Knicks maintained their lead throughout the second quarter and held a 62-41 advantage at the half. The Nuggets were held to a season-low point total for a half after shooting 39 percent from the field.

Jokic scored 17 points before heading to the locker room after being poked in the eye late in the second quarter.

The two-time MVP returned for the start of the third quarter, but the Nuggets struggled to make a run and New York pushed its lead to 82-53 on Brunson's 3-pointer with 5:33 left in the period.

Precious Achiuwa finished with 10 rebounds for New York, which played its second straight game without center Isaiah Hartenstein (left ankle soreness).

—Field Level Media

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