Game ID: 22301009
New York Knicks @ Denver Nuggets
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 32 29 27 25 113NYK 30 26 20 24 100
DEN vs NYK ScoutingDEN vs NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 11 since 2/14, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/09 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 11)
NEW Murray 33 to 39 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 12 since 2/14, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 2 since 3/11, returns tonight: 1 min (7% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 13 since 2/14, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/09 after 4, 1 min since (11% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 14 since 2/14, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/09 after 4, 1 min since (11% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 15 since 2/14, returns tonight: 9 min (80% of 11)
OUT Strawther missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 3 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 9 min since (80% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 3/17, returns tonight: 22 min (207% of 11)
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (132% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 22 min since (207% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 13 min since (121% of 11)
NYK availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 18 since 1/29, returns tonight: 29 min (82% of 35)
OUT Robinson missed 43 since 12/11, out tonight
NEW Hart 35 to 44 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 44 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 29 min since (82% of 35)
NEW Hart 35 to 43 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 21 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 45 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 32 min since (92% of 35)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 20 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 46 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 3/14, returns tonight: 5 min (39% of 12)
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 33 min since (92% of 35)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Robinson missed 47 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Anunoby back 3/12 after 18, 33 min since (92% of 35)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 5 min since (39% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 48 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 7 min since (54% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 49 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 10 min since (86% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 42 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 50 since 12/11, returns tonight: 12 min (52% of 24)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 9 min since (78% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 41 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 39 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 5 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Burks missed 2 since 3/25, out tonight
BACK Robinson back 3/27 after 50, 12 min since (52% of 24)
BACK Sims back 3/18 after 2, 9 min since (73% of 12)
NEW Hart 35 to 40 min over the last 5
NEW DiVincenzo 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW McBride 21 to 44 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 106, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Porter Jr. at 21 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 91, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and DiVincenzo at 15 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Robinson (47 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Denver minus-3 and the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to New York's 29. Call it Denver 108, New York 106, New York keeping it close.
3/13 @ MIA 100-88 — DEN notes
DEN won 100-88. DEN shot 49% (40 of 82) to MIA's 42%, 11 of 33 from three. Porter Jr. led with 25 (9 of 16, 5 of 9 from three); Gordon added 16, Murray 14. The hinge was Q4, 28-17: a lead of 1 became 12. Gordon was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/15 @ SAS 117-106 — DEN notes
DEN won 117-106. DEN shot 55% (49 of 89) to SAS's 46%, 10 of 25 from three, and got to the line 12 times to SAS's 27. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 19, 1 of 3 from three); Murray added 15, Braun 13. The hinge was Q1, 37-18: from level to 19 ahead. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
3/17 @ DAL 105-107 — DEN notes
DEN lost 105-107. DEN shot 44% (37 of 84) to DAL's 42%, 12 of 28 from three. The glass went 37-60 against them. Murray led with 23 (7 of 20, 2 of 5 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Porter Jr. added 20, Jokić 16. Q1 was theirs, 34-30, but the other 3 periods went 77-71 against them.
3/19 @ MIN 115-112 — DEN notes
DEN won 115-112. DEN shot 52% (42 of 81) to MIN's 48%, 14 of 27 from three. DEN turned it over 17 times to MIN's 7, and MIN turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 49-37 for them. Jokić led with 35 (14 of 22, 3 of 4 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Porter Jr. added 26, Murray 18. The hinge was Q2, 35-27: a lead of 7 became 15, and the lead reached 18. Jackson was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/21 vs NYK 113-100 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-100. DEN shot 54% (45 of 84) to NYK's 48%, 6 of 20 from three. The glass went 42-31 for them. Porter Jr. led with 31 (13 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Jokić added 30, Murray 23. The hinge was Q3, 27-20: a lead of 5 became 12. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
3/23 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Ayton at 21 and Simons at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Sharpe (33 straight), Thybulle (2 straight), Hagans (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 25 and Porter Jr. at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 103 a night to Portland's 116 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 114, Portland 107.
3/25 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 117, shooting 42 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jackson Jr. at 25 and Jackson at 23 a game. Without Williams Jr. (7 straight), Kennard (3 straight), Stevens (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Memphis's 117 and the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Denver 115, Memphis 107.
3/27 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Murray (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 55 percent and 46 from three, 15 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 23 free throws a game to Phoenix's 15 and the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Phoenix's 113. Call it Denver 116, Phoenix 112, Phoenix keeping it close.
3/29 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (3 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 102, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Edwards at 22 and Reid at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Towns (10 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Minnesota minus-3 and the arc, Minnesota at 41 percent from three to Denver's 37. Call it Denver 110, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/12 vs PHI 106-79 — NYK notes
NYK won 106-79. NYK shot 51% (40 of 79) to PHI's 38%, 14 of 40 from three. The glass went 51-31 for them. Hart led with 20 (8 of 16, 1 of 6 from three); Brunson added 20, DiVincenzo 16. The hinge was Q1, 26-14: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 33. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
3/14 @ POR 105-93 — NYK notes
NYK won 105-93. NYK shot 44% (38 of 87) to POR's 40%, 6 of 29 from three, and went to the line 26 times to POR's 16 — 23 points from the stripe to their 14. NYK turned it over 12 times to POR's 17. Brunson led with 45 (14 of 30, 2 of 10 from three, 15 of 17 at the line); DiVincenzo added 12, Anunoby 12. The hinge was Q2, 29-16: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 22. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/16 @ SAC 98-91 — NYK notes
NYK won 98-91. NYK shot 43% (37 of 86) to SAC's 35%, 11 of 39 from three, and got to the line 16 times to SAC's 26. The glass went 52-42 for them. Brunson led with 42 (17 of 28, 5 of 10 from three); DiVincenzo added 15, Burks 12. The hinge was Q2, 32-26: NYK came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 5. Burks was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
3/18 @ GSW 119-112 — NYK notes
NYK won 119-112. NYK shot 48% (44 of 91) to GSW's 48%, 14 of 37 from three. Brunson led with 34 (12 of 25, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); McBride added 29, DiVincenzo 18. The hinge was Q1, 30-22: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 15. Hartenstein was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/21 @ DEN 100-113 — NYK notes
NYK lost 100-113. NYK shot 48% (38 of 79) to DEN's 54%, 11 of 31 from three. The glass went 31-42 against them. Brunson led with 26 (11 of 23, 2 of 7 from three); Hartenstein added 20, Burks 18. Q4 was theirs, 24-25, but the other 3 periods went 88-76 against them. Hart's -21 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 98, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and DiVincenzo at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (2 straight), Robinson (48 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 115, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Thomas at 24 and Bridges at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to Brooklyn's 115 and the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Brooklyn minus-1. Call it New York 113, Brooklyn 104.
3/25 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 100, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 33 and DiVincenzo at 17 a game. Without Anunoby (3 straight), Robinson (49 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Cunningham at 18 and Ivey at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Duren (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 100 a night to Detroit's 118 and the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 11. Call it New York 116, Detroit 103, New York by 13.
3/27 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 97 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 18 free throws a game; Trent Jr. at 20 and Dick at 12 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. Without Barrett (7 straight), Quickley (4 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and DiVincenzo at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Anunoby (4 straight), Robinson (50 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-5 a night and Toronto minus-13 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 18 times a game to New York's 11. Call it New York 112, Toronto 106.
3/29 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 21 free throws a game; Vassell at 21 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 26 and DiVincenzo at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Anunoby (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 15 times a game to New York's 10. Call it New York 114, San Antonio 109.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JH J. Holiday
JM J. Murray
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
NYKAB A. Burks
BB B. Bogdanović
BO Bogdanovic
DD D. DiVincenzo
IH I. Hartenstein
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
JS J. Sims
MM M. McBride
PA P. Achiuwa
DEN/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Porter and Jokic turn in big nights, lead Nuggets to 113-100 win over Knicks
DENVER -- — Michael Porter Jr . has the green light to not only shoot but visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, whenever he wants. His coach will even pick up the tab.
Porter has been on an offensive roll since his quick trip to Mexico for a little rest and relaxation over the All-Star break.
The versatile Denver forward had another sensational shooting night on his way to 31 points, Nikola Jokic notched his 22nd triple-double of the season and the Nuggets held off the New York Knicks for a 113-100 win Thursday night.
Porter was 13 of 16 from the field — including a pass to himself off the glass for a dunk — and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line. Porter also had three 3-pointers to give him 193 for the season and break Dale Ellis’ single-season team mark of 192 set in 1996-97.
“I told him just now, ‘Go to Cabo whenever you want. I’ll pay for it,’” Nuggets coach Michael Malone cracked.
The time in the sun was fun, but Porter said the reason for his scoring wasn't so much the trip as tweaks he's incorporated into his game.
“But Cabo was a great break," said Porter, who attributed breaking the team's 3-point mark to being healthy and playing in a career-high 69 games this season. “I needed it for sure.”
Jokic finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists as the reigning champion Nuggets improved to 13-2 since the All-Star break and climbed within percentage points of first place in the Western Conference.
“We’re playing at a high level,” Malone said. “The challenge is with 12 (games) to go can we continue to keep this up and stay healthy while doing so? Our players deserve so much credit for their mindset and approach every single night.”
Jamal Murray added 23 points before limping off the floor with just under a minute remaining after hurting his ankle. The Nuggets were highly focused for this game following a 38-point loss to the Knicks on Jan 25 at Madison Square Garden, Denver's most lopsided loss of the season.
Denver led by 12 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Knicks trimmed it to 90-88 with 8:19 remaining. The Nuggets quickly inserted the starters and put the brakes on the comeback bid.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 20 for the Knicks, whose four-game winning streak came to a halt. New York's reserves outscored Denver's bench by a 30-13 margin.
“They just made a couple more plays than us tonight,” said Brunson, whose team finished 3-1 on their trip out West. “I thought we played hard. We just didn’t get the job done.”
Donte DiVincenzo knocked down three 3-pointers to give him 219, which is the second-most for a season in Knicks history. Evan Fournier set the team record with 241 in 2021-22.
Jokic nearly had a triple-double by halftime with 16 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. Before the game, Knicks coach Coach Tom Thibodeau heaped praise on the two-time NBA MVP. Thibodeau, along with the rest of the league, is trying to figure out whether it's best to take away Jokic's jumper or his court vision.
No one has an answer.
Jokic had a shot in the fourth quarter hit off the top of the backboard and go in. He also winged a pass over his shoulder to the corner that set up Porter for 3-pointer in the third quarter.
“He’s an MVP for a reason,” Brunson said.
The banged-up Knicks continue to be without OG Anunoby (right elbow), Julius Randle (right shoulder) and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle). Thibodeau said before the game that Anunoby remains day-to-day. Asked if he was concerned the clock was starting to run out to get Randle healthy, Thibodeau responded: “Control what you can control. ... Just keep working at it. You never know when it turns. That’s the way we have to approach it.”