Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic powered the Denver Nuggets (49-21) to a commanding 113-100 win over the New York Knicks (41-28) on Thursday night.
Porter’s scored game-high 31 points on an impressive 13-of-16 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Jokic showcased his MVP-caliber skills with a dominant triple-double performance, tallying 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
The Nuggets’ victory marks their 13th win in 15 games since the All-Star break, propelling them into contention for the top seed in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray contributed 23 points before exiting the game late with an ankle injury.
Despite a late surge from the Knicks, who narrowed the gap to just two points in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets’ starters re-entered the game to thwart any comeback attempt.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 26 points, while Isaiah Hartenstein added 20 off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Denver’s offensive firepower. Alec Burks added 18 points off the bench.
The Knicks were plagued by injuries of key players OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson, but still managed to put up a fight against the defending champions.
