The Knicks were not bothered by the altitude in Denver. From the first quarter, OG Anunoby And Jalen Brunson chained baskets and scored 12 points each.
The New York address is remarkable and only Nikola Jokic seems to have a match (24-36). On the Knicks side, they run, they make good passes and the Denver defense is constantly outpaced. There are certainly a few shots of Michael Porter Jr., but it's too few. The 2023 NBA champions are totally dominated in this first period (53-76).
What response for Michael Malone's troops after the break? She is shy. There's a little more effort on the offensive rebound, but it's not enough as OG Anunoby continues to have easy dunks on the fast break. Then, in great form, he hits 3-pointers. The Denver bench contributed nothing at this moment of the meeting (7 points…) and the game was over after three quarters (87-113).
The last quarter is only interesting because Russell Westbrook brings spice by scoring 24 points alone! But the Knicks were too far ahead to be in danger and they won 118-145 after a head and shoulders dominated match.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– OG Anunoby is really not just a defender… If he was annoyed at only being praised for his performances on one side of the field, this performance in Denver will serve as arguments to respond. The Briton was sparkling with 40 points, his new career best. Above all, he was diabolical in terms of his skill with a superb 16/23 shooting. There are easy dunks, yes, to increase the percentage, but also five winning baskets scored (on seven attempts). The former Raptors disgusted the Nuggets.
– The Nuggets weren’t in it. As soon as the cameras were on Michael Malone, he was upset. It must be said that his players did not show their best face. They were pushed around, dominated, even crushed by a team that was skillful in attack and physical in defense. Nikola Jokic tried to get his team on the right track at the start, but the ship quickly sank. A performance to forget, just two days after their victory in Los Angeles.
– Russell Westbrook saves the performance from the bench. Before the last quarter and when New York's victory was certain or almost certain, the Nuggets bench had only scored 7 small points. The holders were a little abandoned. As the last act was uninteresting, Russell Westbrook took the opportunity to put his fingers in the socket: 24 points at 8/11 on the shoot in 9 minutes! It allows the substitutes to have a few more points on the statistics sheet, but even there, the 2017 MVP was not supported: 7 points to accompany him in these twelve minutes…
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
