The New York Knicks lose to the Denver Nuggets 113-100. New York fought hard, but ran out of gas as a long trip and elevation wore them down.
The New York Knicks fought hard but fell to the Denver Nuggets on the last game of their West Coast road trip. Finishing a road trip in Denver feels like a punishment, as fatigue set in for the gritty New York players.
The Knicks started the game in a back-and-forth battle with Denver. Neither team took a lead past six points in the first half, even as the Nuggets’ size gave them a decided rebounding advantage. But the Nuggets began to pull away as the second quarter ticked down and continued their run in the third. New York’s second unit fought back to start the fourth, but Denver closed strong while the Knicks’ jumpers fell short.
New York fought an uphill battle valiantly but came up short. Let’s have a closer look at a strong effort from an undersized and tired team.
The Knicks’ starters lose to Denver’s size
Jalen Brunson: 27 PTS (11/23 FG, 2/7 3PT, 2/3 FT), 9 AST, 2 REB in 34 mins
Jalen Brunson faced more blitzing double-teams and defensive pressure early. But he made the coverage look routine as he picked Denver apart for six assists in the first quarter. Brunson seemed to find Isaiah Hartenstein and Precious Achiuwa on every slip screen. Eventually, Denver relented, and Brunson began to score.
Brunson’s 27 points are a drop-off from his recent production, which only shows how great he’s been. He looked like a force, finishing through contact and sending defenders flailing in the wrong direction with his crossovers. The Knicks’ star showed signs of fatigue when his three-pointers began to fall short in the second half, but he was brilliant otherwise.
Brunson continued to be New York’s star. He finally looked human on this trip and still put up 27 and 9. Denver’s mile-high advantage and a long trip are the only reasons New York’s MVP didn’t put up another 30-point gem. Brunson gets a 3.5 out of 5 for barely missing a double-double.
Miles McBride: 11 PTS (4/9 FG, 1/5 3PT, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK in 44 mins
Miles McBride took on the tall task of guarding Jamal Murray and did so commendably. Murray started strong, but McBride managed to contain the scorer as the action continued. Deuce’s jumper fell back to the median from deep, but he showed off elusiveness by attacking the rim and knocking down a midrange jumper.
McBride’s 44 minutes of action on Denver’s mile-high home turf is an impressive feat. No other visiting player has stayed on the court that long in the past two seasons. Not only did Deuce play long minutes, but he did so as a two-way player guarding the biggest perimeter threat.
McBride’s numbers are modest, but his impact is undoubtedly higher. He contributed as a weak side option and found moments to step up and create for himself and others. Deuce gets a 3 out of 5 and has solidified his spot in the rotation.
Donte DiVincenzo: 11 PTS (4/11 FG, 3/8 3PT), 4 AST, 2 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLK in 31 mins
Donte DiVincenzo shot well from three, moving closer to the record for threes in a single season by a Knick. But Denver never let him drive comfortably, keeping DiVo’s scoring relegated to the perimeter. DiVincenzo responded with kick-outs and dimes.
DiVincenzo’s minutes took a dip thanks to Alec Burks’ scoring. I’m not sure he’d complain since his jumper looked labored in the second half. But I’m also not sure leaving Burks out was the right choice. The Big Ragu’s defense is superior, and New York could have used his hustle for loose balls.
DiVo put together a decent night of basketball. It falls well short of his best nights, but DiVincenzo’s contributions and spacing were respectable. He picks up a 2.5 out of 5 for a nice game.
Josh Hart: 2 PTS (1/5 FG, 0/2 3PT), 1 AST, 3 REB, 1 TO in 36 mins
Josh Hart finally showed signs of fatigue. It didn’t help that he was guarding much bigger players that took him to the post and crashed the boards. Hart never got into his normal flow, chasing down rebounds or pushing in transition. He battled big bodies, and they won for a change.
Hart deserves credit for keeping Aaron Gordon at bay. There was a massive size difference to go with Gordon’s ridiculous athleticism. If Hart got a break from guarding Gordon, he’d find himself on Michael Porter Jr., which is an equally tall task. Hart never got a break.
It’s not a good performance, but I doubt anyone could blame Hart. He fought for position and battled with giants all game. He gets a 1.5 out of 5 for a tough night.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 20 PTS (8/10 FG, 4/5 FT), 3 AST, 8 REB, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 3 TO in 26 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein went right at the Nikola Jokic. He finished inside and consistently knocked down floaters over the league’s best player from tip-off to close. It was Big Hart’s turn to step up as the second option helping Brunson.
Hartenstein also provided quality defense. Jokic will give opponents two or three plays per quarter that seem impossible to stop, but I-Hart at least forced the big man to work. When Hartenstein sat, New York’s lack of size became apparent immediately.
Hartenstein played a great game. He scored a career-high 20 points and contributed strong rebounding and defense. You can’t ask for much more against a constant MVP candidate. I-Hart gets a 3.5 out of 5 for battling with Jokic.
New York’s second unit runs hot and cold
Alec Burks: 18 PTS (5/11 FG, 3/6 3PT, 5/7 FT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 3 TO in 21 mins
Alec Burks finally found a somewhat consistent rhythm on offense. He hit his first two shots, then began to draw whistles and attack off the dribble as defenders closed out hard. But in both halves, Burks’ efficiency dipped as his minutes wore on, which is understandable in Denver’s elevation.
Burks finally struck a balance between firing from deep and attacking the lanes. He’s reduced his forced shots in recent games, and it helped that he drew a few extra whistles this time. His shot selection still included some head-scratchers, but he seems to be settling in.
This was also Burks’ best rebounding effort since arriving. He still missed some loose balls that frustrated me, but he’s starting to find more ways to contribute. Burks gets a 3 out of 5 for finally hitting his stride.
Bojan Bogdanovic: 3 PTS (1/5 FG, 1/2 3PT), 2 AST, 1 REB, 2 TO in 14 mins
Bojan Bogdanovic can’t find consistency. He continued to attack off the dribble to get going, but he couldn’t score at the basket. To make matters worse, Bojan’s passes were continually deflected, which led to some turnovers and missed opportunities. But I still like Bogdanovic’s effort to diversify his attack.
Bogdanovic’s defense is another story. I still blame pairing him with Burks for some glaring issues, but the Knicks don’t get enough stops while Bojan is on the floor. It means he must produce consistent offense to avoid being a net negative.
It wasn’t Bojan’s night. He hit a big three in the fourth, but that was his only field goal. He had as many turnovers as assists and only added one rebound. Bojan gets a 1 out of 5 for a rough game.
Precious Achiuwa: 9 PTS (4/5 FG, 1/1 3PT), 3 AST, 5 REB, 2 BLK in 25 mins
Precious Achiuwa played tough against taller and more athletic opponents. He got some offense going, including a three-pointer at the top of the key. Precious continues to surprise me with heads-up passing that leads to open looks and assists.
Precious also played strong defense, though he was overpowered at times. He stayed in front of Jokic and battled for boards. But this was a rare case where he couldn’t outwork his opponents for an outsized impact.
Achiuwa has settled nicely into his bench role. He’s provided rest for Hartenstein and only struggles when the height disadvantage is too pronounced. Precious gets a 2.5 out of 5 for a nice effort off the bench.
Jericho Sims: 0 PTS (0/0 FG), 2 AST, 2 REB in 8 mins
We got a brief glimpse of Jericho Sims, and it wasn’t bad. He did his best to stick with Jokic, giving up some jumpers but rarely losing the position battle inside. It wasn’t enough time to make many statements, but Sims looked alright.
Tom Thibodeau lacks the pieces to match up with Denver
I can barely nitpick Tom Thibodeau in this game. It was the fourth game on the road with a depleted roster at elevation. Thibodeau had a nice game plan that emphasized attacking Jokic’s lackluster defense. That worked until the players began to slow down, understandably.
If I’m hunting for a nitpick, maybe Jericho Sims could have gotten more minutes to try and match the Nuggets’ size. But I’m reaching there.
Also, props to Thibodeau for winning his challenges.
Closing Thoughts:
This felt like a scheduled loss, but it’s frustrating that it cost New York its position in fourth place. The Knicks put together an impressive road trip, but fatigue was bound to become a factor.
Now, the Knicks return home for a brief four-game stretch against weaker opponents before the home stretch truly kicks into gear. These next four games are important, and New York needs to handle business. It would be a nice time for Mitch or Randle to return and try to work into a rhythm.
Other than that, I think it’s a good time to commend our Knicks for an excellent effort out West. These late-season road trips are never easy, and they took three of four. That’s a fantastic way to set the tone as the season winds down.
A matinee with the Nets is next. Brooklyn’s lost seven of its last eight, and New York is poised to add to their pain. Let’s keep the Nets spiraling and get back in the win column. See you next time, Knicks fam!
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