Game ID: 22400668
Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
NYK 31 29 33 29 122DEN 27 27 32 26 112
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 1/20 · 2 days' restOUT Towns missed 2 since 1/15, returns tonight: 36 min (104% of 35)
OUT Shamet missed 2 since 1/15, returns tonight: 10 min (72% of 14)
BACK McBride back 1/10 after 5, 19 min since (82% of 24)
BACK Sims back 1/15 after 3, 21 min since (192% of 11)
NYK availability going into 1/21 · back-to-backBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 36 min since (104% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 10 min since (72% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/15 after 3, 21 min since (192% of 11)
NYK availability going into 1/25 · 3 days' restOUT Sims missed 2 since 1/20, returns tonight: 2 min (21% of 11)
BACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 38 min since (108% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 8 min since (58% of 14)
NYK availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 35 min since (98% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 10 min since (70% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/15 after 3, 15 min since (135% of 11)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 24 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 10 min since (73% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/01 · 2 days' restBACK Towns back 1/20 after 2, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Shamet back 1/20 after 2, 9 min since (65% of 14)
BACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restBACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 3 min since (25% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backBACK Sims back 1/25 after 2, 2 min since (19% of 11)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 26 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/08 · 3 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 2 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 1/12 after 9, 20 min since (66% of 30)
BACK Nnaji back 1/14 after 2, 3 min since (34% of 10)
DEN availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 3 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Nnaji back 1/14 after 2, 4 min since (37% of 10)
NEW Jordan 12 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/25 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 4 since 1/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 5 since 1/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 6 since 1/17, out tonight
DEN availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 7 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
DEN availability going into 2/01 · back-to-backOUT Šarić missed 8 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Pickett missed 3 since 1/27, returns tonight: 15 min (117% of 13)
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 1/27, returns tonight: 22 min (218% of 10)
DEN availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 9 since 1/17, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 1/31, returns tonight: 12 min (103% of 12)
BACK Pickett back 2/01 after 3, 15 min since (117% of 13)
BACK Nnaji back 2/01 after 3, 22 min since (218% of 10)
DEN availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Westbrook missed 2 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 2 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 10 since 1/17, out tonight
BACK Pickett back 2/01 after 3, 14 min since (108% of 13)
BACK Jordan back 2/03 after 2, 12 min since (103% of 12)
BACK Nnaji back 2/01 after 3, 27 min since (262% of 10)
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 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Bridges at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 52 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Braun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 109 a night to Denver's 119 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and New York plus-0. Call it New York 120, Denver 114.
1/20 vs ATL 119-110 — NYK notes
NYK won 119-110. NYK shot 52% (47 of 90) to ATL's 47%, 9 of 26 from three. NYK turned it over 15 times to ATL's 23. Brunson led with 34 (12 of 18, 3 of 5 from three, 7 of 11 at the line); Bridges added 26, Hart 14. The hinge was Q3, 40-27: NYK came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 5. NYK trailed 54-62 at the half and won the second half 65-48. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/21 @ BKN 99-95 — NYK notes
NYK won 99-95. NYK shot 46% (40 of 87) to BKN's 37%, 8 of 28 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 25. NYK turned it over 10 times to BKN's 16. Towns led with 25 (11 of 18, 0 of 3 from three); Anunoby added 20, Brunson 17. The hinge was Q2, 35-25: NYK came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 8. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/25 vs SAC 143-120 — NYK notes
NYK won 143-120. NYK shot 50% (52 of 105) to SAC's 48%, 17 of 36 from three, and went to the line 23 times to SAC's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 14. The glass went 53-38 for them. Anunoby led with 33 (12 of 18, 4 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Bridges added 27, Brunson 25. The hinge was Q1, 38-25: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Achiuwa was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
1/27 vs MEM 143-106 — NYK notes
NYK won 143-106. NYK shot 52% (56 of 108) to MEM's 45%, 17 of 44 from three. NYK turned it over 10 times to MEM's 26. Bridges led with 28 (12 of 19, 2 of 6 from three); Towns added 24, Brunson 20. The hinge was Q4, 41-22: a lead of 18 became 37. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +43.
1/29 vs DEN 122-112 — NYK notes
NYK won 122-112. NYK shot 52% (48 of 93) to DEN's 49%, 14 of 34 from three. NYK turned it over 5 times to DEN's 14. The glass went 35-47 against them. Brunson led with 30 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Anunoby added 23, Hart 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-27: from level to 4 ahead. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
2/01 vs LAL — 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 125 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Bridges at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 105, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Davis at 26 and James at 24 a game. They have won the glass by 7 a night. Without Vincent (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Lakers have been plus-7 a night and New York minus-1 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 13 times a game to New York's 10. Call it New York 116, the Lakers 111.
2/03 vs HOU — 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 124 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 22 and Anunoby at 21 a game. One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Green at 23 and Brooks at 20 a game. Without Sengun (2 straight), Smith Jr. (15 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 26 free throws a game to New York's 18. Call it New York 117, Houston 112.
2/04 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 102, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barnes at 21 and Barrett at 18 a game. Without Mogbo (7 straight), Shead (2 straight), Lawson (6 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Bridges at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 102 a night to New York's 117 and the turnovers, Toronto giving it away 13 times a game to New York's 10. Call it Toronto 115, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
2/08 vs BOS — 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 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 20 a game. Without Anunoby (2 straight). 3 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 24 and Tatum at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to New York's 35. Call it New York 117, Boston 114, Boston keeping it close.
1/21 vs PHI 144-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 144-109. DEN shot 61% (52 of 85) to PHI's 46%, 16 of 31 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHI's 8 — 24 points from the stripe to their 6. The glass went 51-25 for them. Jokić led with 27 (10 of 15, 2 of 3 from three); Strawther added 23, Braun 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-27: a lead of 10 became 23, and the lead reached 35. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/23 vs SAC 132-123 — DEN notes
DEN won 132-123. DEN shot 49% (49 of 101) to SAC's 44%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 31 times to SAC's 19 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. Jokić led with 35 (12 of 19, 2 of 3 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Braun added 21, Porter Jr. 20. The hinge was Q2, 34-21: a lead of 9 became 22, and the lead reached 25.
1/25 @ MIN 104-133 — DEN notes
DEN lost 104-133. DEN shot 49% (43 of 88) to MIN's 56%, 11 of 32 from three. Murray led with 25 (10 of 16, 3 of 5 from three); Jokić added 20, Westbrook 13. Q2 was theirs, 29-31, but the other 3 periods went 102-75 against them. Jokić's -24 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/27 @ CHI 121-129 — DEN notes
DEN lost 121-129. DEN shot 52% (52 of 100) to CHI's 50%, 6 of 27 from three. Jokić led with 33 (15 of 21, 1 of 4 from three); Braun added 28, Murray 18. Q2 was theirs, 33-29, but the other 3 periods went 100-88 against them. They led by as many as 12. Murray's -16 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/29 @ NYK 112-122 — DEN notes
DEN lost 112-122. DEN shot 49% (41 of 84) to NYK's 52%, 10 of 28 from three. DEN turned it over 14 times to NYK's 5. The glass went 47-35 for them. Murray led with 33 (13 of 25, 3 of 7 from three); Jokić added 17, Gordon 15. Q3 was theirs, 32-33, but the other 3 periods went 89-80 against them. Braun's -18 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 116, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Maxey at 32 and Oubre Jr. at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without George (2 straight), C. Martin (10 straight), Embiid (13 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Philadelphia minus-8 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 116 a night to Denver's 123. Call it Philadelphia 118, Denver 116, Denver keeping it close.
2/01 @ 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 103 a night and allowing 104, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 24 and Micić at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Ball (2 straight), Gra. Williams (29 straight), Mar. Williams (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 128, shooting 53 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 25 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Charlotte wins, and the game turns on the defense, Charlotte allowing 104 a night to Denver's 128. Call it Charlotte 115, Denver 113, Denver keeping it close.
2/03 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 52 percent and 31 from three, 17 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Jokić at 25 a game. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 29 and Murphy III at 25 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (11 straight), Hawkins (2 straight), Payton (27 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where New Orleans takes 26 free throws a game to Denver's 17 and the glass, where Denver has been minus-0 a night and New Orleans minus-5. Call it Denver 121, New Orleans 116.
2/05 vs NOP — 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 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Murray at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Westbrook (2 straight), Watson (2 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Murphy III at 29 and Williamson at 26 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Jones (12 straight), Payton (28 straight), Theis (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and New Orleans minus-5 and the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Denver's 32. Call it Denver 122, New Orleans 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
NYKCP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
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
Brunson has 30 points and 15 assists as Knicks beat slumping Nuggets 122-112 for 5th straight win
NEW YORK -- — Jalen Brunson had 30 points and 15 assists, OG Anunoby scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Denver Nuggets 122-112 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for New York. The Knicks who had a strong start aided by Nikola Jokic 's early foul trouble, then used a late spurt to pull away for good.
Jamal Murray scored 33 points for the Nuggets, who fell to 0-3 on their five-game trip. Jokic finished with 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Russell Westbrook had 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Jokic picked up two fouls in the first 1 1/2 minutes and went to the bench just over two minutes into the game after Anunoby blew by him to start a 15-0 run that gave the Knicks an 18-6 lead. Jokic didn't return until 7:14 remained in the first half and the NBA leader with 21 triple-doubles didn't reach double figures in any category until the fourth quarter.
Takeaways Nuggets: Denver has given up 133, 129 and now 122 points to start the road trip, and it's hard to win anywhere with that kind of defense.
Knicks: New York had reached 140 points in consecutive games for the first time since 1965-66. The Knicks weren't quite as good Wednesday, but 122 points and nearly 52% shooting will win plenty of games.
Key moment Jokic and Aaron Gordon made consecutive 3-pointers to get Denver within four with about 5 1/2 minutes left, but the Knicks got eight of the next 10 points to reopen a double-digit lead.
Key stat New York pushed the ball at every opportunity, finishing with 25 fast-break points and 23 off turnovers.
Up next The Nuggets visit Philadelphia on Friday night. The Knicks host the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.