Jalen Brunson finished with 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the New York Knicks defeated the Denver Nuggets 134-127 in two overtimes Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, extending their winning streak to eight games. The Eastern Conference contender improved to 32-18 and remained near the top of the standings behind Detroit and Boston.
The point guard controlled late possessions, scoring the first six points of the second overtime and adding 10 in the final extra period. New York shot 50% from the field and 36% from three-point range, using efficient half-court execution to overcome a Denver team that forced a faster pace with 105 field-goal attempts.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 12 rebounds despite playing with a bandage over his right eye after a first-quarter head-to-head collision. The big man returned to make free throws in a blood-stained jersey before heading to the locker room, then fouled out in the first overtime as Brunson took over the offense.
OG Anunoby scored 20 points, while Mitchell Robinson provided interior presence off the bench with 10 points on perfect 5-for-5 shooting and eight rebounds. Landry Shamet contributed 16 points and four made three-pointers, helping stretch Denver’s defense during key stretches.
Jamal Murray led the visitors with 39 points on 15-of-33 shooting, and Nikola Jokic posted 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-double since returning from a knee injury. The Western Conference contender fell to 33-18 and dropped its third straight game after recent losses to Oklahoma City and Detroit.
Neither side built a double-digit lead in a game defined by shot creation and late-game execution. New York had previously won its last seven games by an average of 24.7 points, but this matchup required extended minutes and clutch shot-making.
The first overtime ended in controversy when officials called Mikal Bridges for a loose-ball foul against Christian Braun before the buzzer. Braun converted two free throws with 0.3 seconds remaining to tie the score at 119 and force a second extra session.
Denver also dealt with injuries to starting forwards Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, both leaving the game, which affected defensive matchups late. The Nuggets struggled from deep, shooting 13-for-50 from three-point range, while the Knicks converted 18 triples to maintain spacing around Brunson’s drives.
New York continues a demanding schedule with a road game in Detroit on Friday against the conference-leading Pistons. Denver travels to Chicago on Saturday, aiming to stop a losing streak that has tightened the race near the top of the Western Conference.
