Game ID: 22300631
Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks
Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 33 29 36 24 122DEN 21 20 25 18 84
DEN @ NYK ScoutingDEN @ 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.
NYK availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Brunson missed 2 since 1/13, returns tonight: 37 min (102% of 36)
OUT Robinson missed 19 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 8 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 3 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 7 since 1/03, out tonight
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/18 · back-to-backOUT Robinson missed 20 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 9 since 1/01, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 13)
OUT Sims missed 4 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 8 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 37 min since (102% of 36)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 34 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 21 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 5 since 1/11, returns tonight: 3 min (22% of 12)
OUT Gibson missed 9 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 39 min since (107% of 36)
BACK Fournier back 1/18 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 13)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 36 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/23 · 2 days' restOUT Robinson missed 22 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 10 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
BACK Fournier back 1/18 after 9, 6 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 3 min since (22% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 35 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 23 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 2 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 11 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 15 min since (120% of 12)
NEW Hartenstein 26 to 33 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 1/23, returns tonight: 16 min (60% of 26)
OUT Robinson missed 24 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 3 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 12 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Brunson back 1/17 after 2, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 18 min since (150% of 12)
NYK availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 25 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 4 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 13 since 1/03, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 1/27 after 2, 16 min since (60% of 26)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 14 min since (115% of 12)
NYK availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Robinson missed 26 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 5 since 1/20, out tonight
OUT Gibson missed 14 since 1/03, returns tonight: 0 min (5% of 10)
BACK Hartenstein back 1/27 after 2, 16 min since (62% of 26)
BACK Sims back 1/20 after 5, 16 min since (130% of 12)
NYK availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Randle missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Anunoby missed 2 since 1/29, out tonight
OUT Robinson missed 27 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 6 since 1/20, out tonight
BACK Hartenstein back 1/27 after 2, 20 min since (79% of 26)
BACK Gibson back 1/30 after 14, 0 min since (5% of 10)
NEW Achiuwa 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Sims 12 to 19 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 5 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/05 after 2, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (115% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/19 · 2 days' restOUT Strawther missed 6 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 1/07 after 3, 12 min since (111% of 11)
DEN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 7 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 8 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/21, returns tonight: 12 min (82% of 15)
OUT Strawther missed 9 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 10 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 11 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (82% of 15)
DEN availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 1/27, returns tonight: 11 min (78% of 15)
OUT Strawther missed 12 since 1/05, out tonight
DEN availability going into 2/02 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 13 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 1/25 after 2, 12 min since (80% of 15)
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 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 35 and Randle at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Robinson (23 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 53 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 101 a night to Denver's 110. Call it New York 113, Denver 108.
1/17 vs HOU 109-94 — NYK notes
NYK won 109-94. NYK shot 45% (39 of 87) to HOU's 42%, 13 of 37 from three. The glass went 51-38 for them. Randle led with 31 (11 of 19, 4 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Brunson added 30, Anunoby 15. The hinge was Q4, 32-25: a lead of 8 became 15, and the lead reached 20. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
1/18 vs WAS 113-109 — NYK notes
NYK won 113-109. NYK shot 45% (39 of 86) to WAS's 46%, 13 of 38 from three. NYK turned it over 17 times to WAS's 12, and WAS turned those into 9 steals. Brunson led with 41 (14 of 27, 2 of 4 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Randle added 21, Anunoby 19. The hinge was Q4, 40-37: a lead of 1 became 4. DiVincenzo was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/20 vs TOR 126-100 — NYK notes
NYK won 126-100. NYK shot 55% (48 of 88) to TOR's 41%, 14 of 39 from three. NYK turned it over 21 times to TOR's 10, and TOR turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 61-31 for them. Brunson led with 38 (13 of 23, 5 of 11 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Randle added 18, Achiuwa 18. The hinge was Q3, 33-21: a lead of 2 became 14, and the lead reached 28. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/23 @ BKN 108-103 — NYK notes
NYK won 108-103. NYK shot 47% (40 of 86) to BKN's 44%, 10 of 29 from three, and went to the line 19 times to BKN's 5 — 18 points from the stripe to their 4. Randle led with 30 (10 of 19, 8 of 8 at the line); Brunson added 30, DiVincenzo 11. The hinge was Q4, 32-18: NYK came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 5. Achiuwa was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
1/25 vs DEN 122-84 — NYK notes
NYK won 122-84. NYK shot 53% (45 of 85) to DEN's 40%, 15 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to DEN's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 11. NYK turned it over 8 times to DEN's 19. Anunoby led with 26 (10 of 18, 3 of 9 from three); Brunson added 21, Grimes 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-21: from level to 12 ahead, and the lead reached 38. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +38.
1/27 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 98, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and Randle at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Hartenstein (2 straight), Robinson (24 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 117, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Adebayo at 19 and Herro at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jaquez Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-10 a night and Miami minus-5 and the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to Miami's 117. Call it New York 116, Miami 103, New York by 13.
1/29 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 23 and Richards at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 101, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and Randle at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Robinson (25 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-9 a night and Charlotte minus-6 and the defense, New York allowing 101 a night to Charlotte's 121. Call it New York 117, Charlotte 109.
1/30 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 31 and Randle at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Robinson (26 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 131, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 22 and Sexton at 18 a game. Without Hendricks (8 straight), Juzang (22 straight), Sensabaugh (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to Utah's 131 and the glass, where New York has been plus-9 a night and Utah plus-2. Call it New York 123, Utah 111, New York by 12.
2/01 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 98, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Randle at 22 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Randle (2 straight), Anunoby (2 straight), Robinson (27 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 121, shooting 51 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Nesmith at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without McConnell (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 98 a night to Indiana's 121 and the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to Indiana's 34. Call it New York 120, Indiana 113.
1/16 @ PHI 121-126 — DEN notes
DEN lost 121-126. DEN took 13 more shots (89 to 76), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to PHI's 57%, 12 of 29 from three, and got to the line 25 times to PHI's 34. The glass went 46-32 for them. Jokić led with 25 (11 of 20); Porter Jr. added 20, Murray 17. Q3 was theirs, 26-21, but the other 3 periods went 105-95 against them. Porter Jr.'s -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/19 @ BOS 102-100 — DEN notes
DEN won 102-100. DEN shot 52% (42 of 81) to BOS's 43%, 8 of 31 from three. DEN turned it over 9 times to BOS's 2. Murray led with 35 (15 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); Jokić added 34, Porter Jr. 13. The hinge was Q3, 26-21: the deficit went from 6 to 1. DEN trailed 55-61 at the half and won the second half 47-39. Jackson was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
1/21 @ WAS 113-104 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-104. DEN shot 49% (43 of 88) to WAS's 43%, 8 of 22 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 22 — 19 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 50-40 for them. Jokić led with 42 (15 of 20, 12 of 14 at the line); Murray added 19, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q1, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 17. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
1/23 @ IND 114-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 114-109. DEN shot 50% (44 of 88) to IND's 49%, 11 of 33 from three. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Murray added 31, Caldwell-Pope 14. The hinge was Q3, 39-19: DEN came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 12. DEN trailed 54-62 at the half and won the second half 60-47. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/25 @ NYK 84-122 — DEN notes
DEN lost 84-122. DEN shot 40% (34 of 84) to NYK's 53%, 5 of 26 from three, and got to the line 13 times to NYK's 20. DEN turned it over 19 times to NYK's 8, and NYK turned those into 12 steals. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 18, 2 of 3 from three); Gordon added 12. Q4 was theirs, 18-24, but the other 3 periods went 98-66 against them. Murray's -29 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 34 free throws a game; Embiid at 42 and Maxey at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Melton (6 straight), Morris Sr. (2 straight), Covington (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Philadelphia minus-6 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 34 free throws a game to Denver's 19. Call it Denver 115, Philadelphia 114, Philadelphia keeping it close.
1/29 vs MIL — 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 105 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 32 free throws a game; Antetokounmpo at 30 and Lillard at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Milwaukee takes 32 free throws a game to Denver's 22 and the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Milwaukee's 119. Call it Denver 117, Milwaukee 116, Milwaukee keeping it close.
1/31 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 17 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Murray at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-1 and the arc, OKC at 36 percent from three to Denver's 30. Call it OKC 115, Denver 109.
2/02 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Murray at 23 a game. One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 25 and Ayton at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Denver 114, Portland 110, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
HT H. Tyson
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
NYKDD D. DiVincenzo
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
JR J. Randle
JS J. Sims
MF M. Flynn
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
QG Q. Grimes
RA R. Arcidiacono
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
Anunoby, Brunson lead surging Knicks to 122-84 rout of Nuggets
NEW YORK -- — OG Anunoby scored 26 points, Jalen Brunson added 21 and the New York Knicks handed the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets their worst loss of the season, 122-84 on Thursday night.
Quentin Grimes had 19 points, Julius Randle 17 and Donte DiVincenzo 16 for the Knicks, who have won five straight and 11 of 13 since Anunoby was acquired from Toronto.
Anunoby shot 10 for 18 from the field and had six steals.
“He’s getting more and more comfortable,” Brunson said. “He played really well tonight. He was aggressive on both sides of the ball. That’s the OG we got, that’s the OG we saw playing against for a while.”
Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, whose three-game winning streak ended. Denver went 3-2 on a five-game trip that began with a loss at Philadelphia.
“They were just more aggressive,” Jokic said. “One team basically on the floor today. We were not there today.”
The Nuggets’ previous biggest loss was a 119-93 defeat to visiting Oklahoma City on Dec. 29.
“I thought it was a very disappointing ending to the road trip,” Denver coach Mike Malone said. “You never want to get blown out, which is what happened tonight. And we live to fight another day.”
Malone was not thrilled with the way the NBA set up his team's schedule for its return home. The Nuggets have Friday off and host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday afternoon.
“All of our focus right now is getting home, getting some rest tomorrow, and thankful that the NBA gave us a matinee game on Saturday,” he quipped.
New York never trailed and shot 52.9% (45 of 85) from the field and 39.5% (15 of 38) from 3-point range.
Brunson, DiVincenzo and Randle set the tone by combining for 25 points to help New York to a 33-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Knicks had a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
Some might call it a signature victory for surging New York, but Randle didn't see it that way.
“I am not going to lie to you bro, it’s regular season. I could care less,” Randle said. “I like the fact that we won, first and foremost, you don’t want to be on that end. But we’re building the right habits. For me it only matters in April.”
The Nuggets went 5 of 26 (19.2%) from 3-point range, and Aaron Gordon (12 points) was their only player other than Jokic to score in double figures.