Knicks 145, Nuggets 118: “OG the real MVP”

When OG Anunoby came to the Knicks, there were reports he had been disappointed by his limited role in Toronto’s offense. Many nights this season, he’s looked like a viable third option for New York. Tonight, he was numero uno. Quoth El_Roble: “OG the real MVP.”

The New York Knicks (10-7) dominated the Denver Nuggets (9-7) in the first half, shooting a scorching 62% from the field and building a 76-53 lead, thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns’ 21 points and OG Anunoby’s 20. New York overwhelmed Denver with superior ball movement (23 assists on 31 field goals), rebounding, and fast breaks, leaving the home team scrambling. The Knicks extended their dominance in the third, with OG Anunoby on a cheat-code heater and New York taking a 113-87 lead into the fourth. Russell Westbrook tried to save face, cutting the deficit briefly to 17, but New York was unstoppable. FInal score, 145-118.

This game was one of the best offensive performances by a Knicks team this writer has ever seen. The numbers support it. Their total of 145 was the most points scored by an NBA team this season. Not only did OG Anunoby record a career-high 40 points and lead the team in scoring for the third time this season, Jalen Brunson dished a career-high 17 assists (previous high: 14 in January against Minnesota). Jalen added 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting and committed just two turnovers in 38 minutes. He was captain-ing all night.

The Knicks’ 45 assists tonight were the most by an NBA team this season and tied their franchise record. Want more? Seven Knicks scored in double-figures. Towns finished with a 30-point, 15-rebound double-double that included four assists and three steals. Mikal Bridges scored 14, Miles McBride 13, Josh Hart 12, and Cam Payne 11. Payne, in particular, was a fireball for a Knicks’ bench that would have outscored Denver’s if not for Russell Westbrook’s 27 points.

For Denver, Michael Porter scored an 18-10 double-double. But what about Nikola Jokić, you ask? The big fella finished with a 22-7-7 statline, under his season-average of 30.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 11.3 assists. Thibs had a very sensible strategy to neutralize Joker: triple-team him. Genius!

First Half

Shaking off their poor shooting from Saturday, the Knicks came out blazing tonight. In the first quarter, they hit 70% from the floor and 4-of-5 from deep. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored an efficient 12 points. Like so:

Denver, on the other hand, converted just 2-of-8 from downtown, made 9-of-23 overall, and ended the quarter on the wrong side of a 36-24 score. If not for their dynamite center’s 13 points, the Mile High team would be in a mile-deep hole. Here’s Josh Hart just being great again:

In the second quarter, the domination continued. Cam Payne scored six of eight unanswered points, while New York forced three Denver turnovers and pushed their lead to 21 points just four minutes in. Take a moment to check this out: First, Deuce pokes the ball loose, then Cam scoops it up and starts a fast break. He makes a smooth pass on the run, and after Bridges’ miss, he gets into position for an open corner three. Nice bench piece!

Denver tried to gain ground on the visitors, but New York was shooting lasers tonight. Karl-Anthony Towns racked up 21 first-half points and seven rebounds, and the team embodied generosity. By halftime, they had assisted on 23 of their 31 made field goals. “Where was this on Saturday?” you ask. Good question. The Knicks led at halftime, 76-53.

That 76 total matched their season-high for first-half points (recorded five days ago in Phoenix). Here’s OG collecting some of his 20 first-half points:

Not only had New York outshot the home team, 62% to 41%, but they also outrebounded them 25-17, clobbered them in the paint, 38-20, and outran their horses on fast breaks, 17-2. Can they keep up the pace through two more quarters?

Second Half

A 6-3 start to the third quarter goosed the Knicks’ advantage to 26 points, and soon 27. OG Anunoby kept running the floor like it was a track meet, and Josh Hart kept feeding him.

Denver managed to trim the deficit to 22 midway through the quarter, but New York fended off every swing. When Miles “Deuce” McBride swished a triple (his first of two in the frame), a contingent of the crowd chanted, “Deuuuuuuuce!” even in Colorado. Knicks fans are everywhere.

With four minutes left, Russell Westbrook hit a three to cut the lead to 20, but OG answered with a drive and an And-1 free throw. Anunoby kept padding his career-high total, hitting a deep three, a floater, and then another long-range bomb. Fans cheered for him, too. Once again, New York outscored Denver in the quarter and carried a commanding 113-87 lead into the fourth.

Early in the fourth quarter, New York’s lead hit 30 while Nuggets fans made for the exits. Deuce broke double-digits. Towns knocked on the door of 30. With eight minutes remaining, when the Nuggets scored back-to-back to cut their disadvantage to 26, Thibs called an angry timeout. He was salivating for this season’s tenth win!

Westbrook is still a pesky player in his advanced age, cutting the lead to 17 with four minutes left. But then Anunoby scored, and Josh Hart scored, and soon it was bench-clearing time. Somebody save the game ball for OG!

Notes

• With Denver’s win over the Lakers on Saturday, coach Mike Malone became the winningest coach in franchise history. Malone and Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau were both assistants for New York from 2001 to 2004.
• OG’s final statline: 40 points, five rebounds, four assists, one block, 16-of-23 from the floor, 5-of-7 from deep, 3-of-3 from the stripe, 38 minutes, and +21.
• Towns! 12-of-15 from the floor tonight. He chowed all night long in the paint.
• If Jokic had recorded a triple-double, he would have tied Magic Johnson (138) for the third-most triple-doubles in NBA history.
• The Knicks set a new franchise record for second-quarter assists with 23—sharing is caring, Clydesdales! They also dished out a season-high 45 assists, surpassing their 37 against Washington on November 18, and tied the franchise record.
• With the win, the Knicks have now won just four of their last 25 games played in Denver.
• Because we’d be remiss not to mention it: Elfrid Payton recorded a career-high 21 assists for the Pelicans tonight.

Up Next

Phewww, that felt grand. The fourth stop of the road trip will be Dallas on Wednesday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.