Game ID: 22500726
Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 OT2 Final
NYK 28 27 33 20 11 15 134DEN 30 23 29 26 11 8 127
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 1/28 · back-to-backOUT Clarkson missed 2 since 1/24, returns tonight: 7 min (41% of 16)
OUT Kolek missed 2 since 1/24, returns tonight: 20 min (181% of 11)
BACK Brunson back 1/19 after 2, 34 min since (97% of 35)
NYK availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restBACK Brunson back 1/19 after 2, 33 min since (94% of 35)
BACK Clarkson back 1/28 after 2, 7 min since (41% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 1/28 after 2, 20 min since (181% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 1/28 after 2, 7 min since (41% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 1/28 after 2, 19 min since (171% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 3 since 1/28, out tonight
OUT Clarkson missed 2 since 1/30, returns tonight: 21 min (129% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 1/28 after 2, 17 min since (155% of 11)
NEW Robinson 18 to 24 min over the last 4
NYK availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT McBride missed 4 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 1/28 after 2, 14 min since (85% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 1/28 after 2, 18 min since (163% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 5 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 1/28 after 2, 17 min since (105% of 16)
BACK Kolek back 1/28 after 2, 17 min since (153% of 11)
NYK availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 6 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 2/03 after 2, 21 min since (131% of 16)
NEW Kolek 11 to 17 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Anunoby missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 7 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 2/03 after 2, 18 min since (109% of 16)
NEW Shamet 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/11 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 2/06, out tonight
OUT McBride missed 8 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 2/03 after 2, 17 min since (103% of 16)
NEW Shamet 21 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Jokić missed 15 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Braun missed 9 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 18 since 12/25, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 19 min since (131% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 26 min since (203% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 1/30 · back-to-backOUT Jokić missed 16 since 12/31, returns tonight: 24 min (70% of 35)
OUT Braun missed 10 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 19 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 2 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 20 min since (136% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 26 min since (198% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 11 since 1/11, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 20 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 3 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 24 min since (70% of 35)
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 19 min since (130% of 15)
BACK Valančiūnas back 1/22 after 11, 25 min since (190% of 13)
NEW Watson 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 16 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 12 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Braun missed 12 since 1/11, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Johnson missed 21 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 4 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 27 min since (77% of 35)
BACK Strawther back 1/23 after 2, 20 min since (134% of 15)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Jones 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 23 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT Johnson missed 22 since 12/25, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 5 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 29 min since (82% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 26 min since (81% of 32)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Jones 22 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/07 · 2 days' restOUT Johnson missed 23 since 12/25, returns tonight: 27 min (89% of 31)
OUT Gordon missed 6 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 33 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 35 min since (109% of 32)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 13 to 19 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/09 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 7 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 1/30 after 16, 33 min since (94% of 35)
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 34 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 27 min since (89% of 31)
NEW Watson 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Strawther 15 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/11 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 8 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 2 since 2/07, out tonight
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 33 min since (105% of 32)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 28 min since (92% of 31)
NEW Strawther 15 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/19 · 7 days' restOUT Watson missed 3 since 2/07, out tonight
OUT Gordon missed 9 since 1/27, out tonight
OUT Jones missed 3 since 2/07, returns tonight: 16 min (74% of 22)
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 2/09, out tonight
BACK Braun back 2/03 after 12, 34 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Johnson back 2/07 after 23, 28 min since (93% of 31)
NEW Brown 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Strawther 15 to 26 min over the last 5
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 95, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Anunoby at 22 and Brunson at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without McBride (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 29 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Johnson (22 straight), Gordon (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 95 a night to Denver's 113 and the line, where Denver takes 29 free throws a game to New York's 18. Call it New York 117, Denver 109.
1/28 @ TOR 119-92 — NYK notes
NYK won 119-92. NYK shot 50% (45 of 90) to TOR's 38%, 14 of 38 from three, and got to the line 18 times to TOR's 29. Bridges led with 30 (12 of 15, 4 of 6 from three); Anunoby added 26, Hart 22. The hinge was Q3, 35-19: NYK came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 12, and the lead reached 27. NYK trailed 47-51 at the half and won the second half 72-41. Kolek was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
1/30 vs POR 127-97 — NYK notes
NYK won 127-97. NYK shot 48% (48 of 99) to POR's 43%, 19 of 45 from three. NYK turned it over 13 times to POR's 20. The glass went 52-37 for them. Brunson led with 26 (8 of 20, 5 of 12 from three); Anunoby added 24, Hart 20. The hinge was Q1, 37-22: from level to 15 ahead, and the lead reached 33. Anunoby was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
2/01 vs LAL 112-100 — NYK notes
NYK won 112-100. NYK shot 47% (43 of 91) to LAL's 45%, 18 of 42 from three, and got to the line 11 times to LAL's 19. The glass went 46-36 for them. Anunoby led with 25 (9 of 15, 4 of 8 from three); Shamet added 23, Hart 20. The hinge was Q3, 38-26: NYK came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 8. NYK trailed 52-56 at the half and won the second half 60-44. Towns was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
2/03 @ WAS 132-101 — NYK notes
NYK won 132-101. NYK shot 52% (47 of 90) to WAS's 41%, 17 of 37 from three. Bridges led with 23 (8 of 10, 3 of 4 from three); Brunson added 21, Anunoby 19. The hinge was Q1, 38-22: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 41. Hart was the night's best plus/minus at +34.
2/04 vs DEN 134-127 — NYK notes
NYK won 134-127 in 2 overtimes. NYK shot 50% (50 of 100) to DEN's 44%, 18 of 50 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 27. Brunson led with 42 (14 of 27, 5 of 12 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Towns added 24, Anunoby 20. The hinge was OT2, 15-8: from level to 7 ahead. Shamet was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/06 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 30 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Duren at 18 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 103, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Anunoby at 23 and Brunson at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without McBride (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 30 free throws a game to New York's 18 and the arc, New York at 41 percent from three to Detroit's 33. Call it New York 115, Detroit 114, Detroit keeping it close.
2/08 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 92, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and Pritchard at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 23 and Anunoby at 22 a game. Without McBride (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 92 a night to New York's 109. Call it Boston 112, New York 108, New York keeping it close.
2/10 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 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Anunoby at 21 a game. Without Anunoby (2 straight), McBride (7 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Nembhard at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Thompson (2 straight), Que. Jackson (2 straight), Toppin (50 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 107 a night to Indiana's 120 and the glass, where New York has been plus-1 a night and Indiana minus-7. Call it New York 119, Indiana 109, New York by 10.
2/11 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Embiid at 31 and Maxey at 26 a game. Without George (6 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and Towns at 19 a game. Without Anunoby (3 straight), McBride (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Philadelphia wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Philadelphia 117, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
1/29 vs BKN 107-103 — DEN notes
DEN won 107-103. DEN shot 48% (38 of 80) to BKN's 44%, 13 of 26 from three, and went to the line 25 times to BKN's 18 — 18 points from the stripe to their 15. Murray led with 27 (9 of 16, 2 of 3 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 25, Watson 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-23: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 19. Hardaway Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
1/30 vs LAC 122-109 — DEN notes
DEN won 122-109. DEN shot 55% (40 of 73) to LAC's 47%, 16 of 28 from three, and went to the line 32 times to LAC's 21 — 26 points from the stripe to their 15. Jokić led with 31 (8 of 11, 2 of 3 from three, 13 of 17 at the line); Hardaway Jr. added 22, Watson 21. The hinge was Q1, 35-27: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/01 vs OKC 111-121 — DEN notes
DEN lost 111-121. DEN shot 49% (39 of 79) to OKC's 47%, 16 of 35 from three. Watson led with 29 (11 of 17, 5 of 7 from three); Jokić added 16, Valančiūnas 13. Q4 was theirs, 26-20, the deficit cut from 16 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 101-85 against them. Jones's -22 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/03 @ DET 121-124 — DEN notes
DEN lost 121-124. DEN shot 45% (37 of 83) to DET's 46%, 10 of 30 from three, and went to the line 43 times to DET's 30 — 37 points from the stripe to their 26. Murray led with 32 (8 of 17, 4 of 8 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Jokić added 24, Watson 17. Q4 was theirs, 41-31, the deficit cut from 13 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 93-80 against them. Jokić's -9 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/04 @ NYK 127-134 — DEN notes
DEN lost 127-134 in 2 overtimes. DEN shot 44% (46 of 105) to NYK's 50%, 13 of 50 from three, and went to the line 27 times to NYK's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 16. Murray led with 39 (15 of 33, 3 of 14 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Jokić added 30, Hardaway Jr. 19. Q4 was theirs, 26-20, the deficit cut from 6 to 0, but the other 5 periods went 114-101 against them. Brown's -12 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/07 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 124, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dosunmu at 20 and White at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Giddey (5 straight), Jones (8 straight), Collins (21 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 30 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Johnson (23 straight), Gordon (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 30 free throws a game to Chicago's 22 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 12. Call it Denver 119, Chicago 116, Chicago keeping it close.
2/09 vs CLE — 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 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 25 a game. Without Gordon (7 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Allen at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Mobley (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the line, where Denver takes 32 free throws a game to Cleveland's 18 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 111 a night to Denver's 122. Call it Denver 120, Cleveland 119, Cleveland keeping it close.
2/11 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 32 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Jokić at 23 a game. Without Watson (2 straight), Gordon (8 straight), Jones (2 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 125, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jerome at 20 and Wells at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Aldama (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Memphis minus-4 and the line, where Denver takes 32 free throws a game to Memphis's 26. Call it Denver 122, Memphis 118, Memphis keeping it close.
2/19 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Collins at 17 a game. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Bogdanović (4 straight), Batum (2 straight). 7 days' rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 34 free throws a game; Murray at 28 and Jokić at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Watson (3 straight), Gordon (9 straight), Jones (3 straight). 7 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and the Clippers minus-5 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 107 a night to Denver's 123. Call it the Clippers 115, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENBB B. Brown
CB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JV J. Valančiūnas
JO Jokic
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
SJ S. Jones
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
VA Valanciunas
NYKAH A. Hukporti
JB J. Brunson
JC J. Clarkson
KM K. McCullar Jr.
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MD M. Diawara
MR M. Robinson
OA O. Anunoby
TK T. Kolek
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
Knicks outlast Nuggets 134-127 in 2 OTs for their eighth straight victory as Brunson scores 42
NEW YORK -- — Jalen Brunson had 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the New York Knicks outlasted the Denver Nuggets 134-127 in two overtimes Wednesday night for their eighth straight victory.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 12 rebounds while playing with a bandage over his right eye after he was bloodied in a head-to-head collision in the first quarter. He fouled out in the first overtime, but Brunson took over with 10 points in the second extra period.
Jamal Murray scored 39 points for the Nuggets, while Nikoka Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-double since returning from a knee injury last week. Denver lost its third straight, having fallen to conference leaders Oklahoma City and Detroit in his previous two games.
The Knicks had won by an average of 24.7 points during their winning streak before Wednesday's thriller in which neither team led by double digits. OG Anunoby scored 20 points.
The Nuggets lost starting forwards Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones to injuries during the game, with Watson limping off in the fourth quarter with an apparent right leg injury,
The Knicks appeared to have it won in the first overtime when Murray was short on a 3-point attempt in the last second. But officials whistled Mikal Bridges for a loose-ball foul against Christian Braun that review showed came before the clock expired. Braun hit the two free throws with 0.3 seconds left to tie it at 119.
Brunson then scored the first six points of the second OT.
Towns was driving to the basket in the first quarter when he banged heads with Jones, opening a cut over his right eye. After getting treated and bandaged, he made the free throws in his blood-stained white jersey before going directly to the locker room.