Jokic Loses To Knicks Beats Nets
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Richard Jean
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Jalen Brunson scored 24 points in his return to the court, missing five of the last six games due to injury, and the New York Knicks completed a season sweep of the Denver Nuggets, their first since the 2002-2003 season, winning 116-110 at Madison Square Garden last Saturday, March 18.
Brunson started the game strong, scoring 16 points in the first quarter, but the Nuggets led 69-62 at halftime and led by as many as 13 in the second half. In the fourth quarter, Brunson scored his final 6 points, with the final two coming via free throws to put the Knicks up 4 with 43.1 seconds left in regulation. On the Nuggets ensuing possession, two-time defending MVP, Nikola Jokic, missed a 3-point jumper and Bruson subsequently pushed the ball downfield to Mitchell Robinson for an emphatic dunk, solidifying the Knicks victory.
Said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau on Brunson’s return to the lineup “He started the game and that was probably more adrenaline than anything else…little rust but then he got a good rhythm late. It was good. The way we are playing right now…we just concentrate.”
RJ Barrett and Julius Randle of the Knicks scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, in the victory. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 25 points. Jokic finished with 24. 4 other Denver players scored in double figures.
Jamal Murray and Jokic scored 25 and 24 points, respectively, for the Nuggets in the loss. 4 other Denver players scored in double figures. The Nuggets, which lost their first game at Madison Square Garden since October 30 2017 (ironically by the same score), still remain the top seed in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets did not leave New York City without a win as they defeated the Brooklyn Nets 108-102 last Sunday afternoon. Michael Porter led all scorers with 28 points while Murray put up the first 25 point game on the road trip. Jokic finished with 22.
