After making it appear on average, the best basketball player on the planet said that the Knicks have a pretender in the legitimate title.
“They play very well,” said Nikola Jokic. “They are well trained, they push the rhythm and, in the half-haul, they know what they are doing. So it’s a very good team.
“I think they are the favorites – not the favorites, but I think the top five candidates for the title.”
Seated by the first problems and attacked late by the aggressiveness of the Knicks, Jokic, the Triple-Double Nuggets machine, produced only one-double with only 17 points in the fifth consecutive victory in New York, 122-112 on Denver Wednesday .
Jalen Brunson was the best player in one or the other MSG team, accumulating 30 points with 15 assists.
The Strikey Knicks (32-16), who now have consecutive declaration victories after destroying the Grizzlies on Monday, remain in a second position in the east behind the Celtics, who exploded the Bulls on Wednesday.
The cities of Karl-Anthony did not want to get caught in a controversy speech-“I have a lot of experience, if you can take care of the present, the future will take care of itself”, it He said – but accepted congratulations to suffocate Jokic.
The former MVP recorded only six assists and six rebounds on shot 6 for 15 – all well below its MVP caliber.
“He is one of the best NBA players. So you need a team effort and be ready to take the competition and take the match, “said Towns. “And all that I can say for myself is that I wanted to make him difficult for him and make him constantly think of the pressure that we had to apply.
“When you have a special player, you want to make yourself as difficult as possible. And I think that’s what our team has done, it’s just to try to make him think, to try to make him the second time, which he does not do much. He’s so talented.
Jokic’s pace had left from the start, after winning two faults after about two minutes.
With Jokic sitting all except nine minutes of opening half-time, the Knicks took a 12-point lead and maintained a six-point edge at the break.
Then, Brunson took over with 18 points in the third quarter, sending the defenders of Denver in circles.
The Knicks led the second half.
They also accumulated 408 points in consecutive victories on the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Kings, a franchise record for points over a period of three games.
“He was simply special,” said Towns about Brunson. “CAP” is special. Everyone knows. We needed him to mark tonight, we needed him to do the best. And he did that. This is why he is special. Whenever his name is called at the biggest moment, he is ready. »»
Brunson was helped by five other Knicks marking two -digit, including 23 from Og Anunoby.
Anunoby continued his resurgence at the end of January, left 14 points in the first half on a 6 for 7 shot.
For Anunoby, who scored a 40 -point career summit in Denver at the end of November, there is something to face the Nuggets.
And for Towns, who eliminated Jokic in the playoffs last season with the Timberwolves, there is something to face the Nuggets.
“Right now, the Knicks are shooting all cylinders,” said Denver coach Mike Malone. “I don’t see any weakness. And it’s always scary when you are about to play a team that plays well. “”
The Knicks have won five of their last six against the Nuggets (28-19), a surprising record considering that Denver has resided in the title of contribution in recent years.
Now, as Jokic has recognized, the Knicks look closer to this status.
“We’re in a good place right now,” said Brunson. “I love the way we play. This is something we have to continue. »»
