Jokic's triple-double helps Nuggets beat Knicks 115-108
DENVER (AP) Nikola Jokic's teammates are definitely hard to impress.
He bounced a rebound off a player as he's falling out of bounds and later delivered a no-look pass that completely froze a defender. He also finished with a triple-double.
''Another day at the office,'' Gary Harris said. ''That's what he does. It's one of those days again.''
Jokic had 19 points, 14 rebounds and 15 assists, including that late no-look pass to wrap things up, as the Denver Nuggets kept right on rolling by beating the New York Knicks 115-108 on Tuesday night for their ninth straight home victory.
It was the Jokic Show with the 7-footer posting his third triple-double of the season. Jokic did a little bit of everything, including a heads-up play with 1:21 left and Denver leading 111-105. He grabbed a rebound and threw it off the back of Tim Hardaway Jr. as he was tumbling out of bounds. With about 30 seconds left, Jokic delivered a no-look pass to Malik Beasley to seal the win.
Does anything surprise the Nuggets when it comes to him?
''Nah,'' said Beasley, who scored a career-high 23 points.
As for the ''M-V-P'' chants at the end of the game, Jokic definitely heard them and appreciated the support.
''But let's go step by step,'' Jokic said.
In the old days, this sort of game would've been a trap for the Nuggets. They were facing a struggling Knicks team that was coming off a 32-point loss in Utah last Saturday. But on a night when the defense faltered at times, the Western Conference-leading Nuggets found a way to pull it out.
''As a young team, we accepted the challenge and got better tonight,'' Paul Millsap said.
Denver has knocked off the Knicks 11 straight times at the Pepsi Center. It was far from easy, though, with the Nuggets needing a big 3-pointer from Jokic with 2:55 remaining to finally gain some separation. The Knicks have lost eight in a row.
''We competed. We competed hard,'' Knicks guard Emmanuel Mudiay said. ''We had a chance, but we didn't get it.''
Luke Kornet led the Knicks with 19 points, while reserve Enes Kanter scored 17 points and grabbed 12 points. Kanter recently voiced his displeasure about his role with the Knicks.
''I'm very sad seeing my teammates out there losing,'' Kanter explained. ''I hate losing, man. I'm not going to accept losing. Every time I'm out there I'm trying my best to get a win.''
The Nuggets are steadily getting back to health. They had Harris on the court after he missed 11 games with a hip injury. Over the weekend, Millsap returned to the court from a broken toe. Millsap had 16 points against the Knicks.
Before the game, Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed concern over Denver's defensive intensity of late. The Nuggets tightened things up in the second half after falling behind by as many as 10 points in the second quarter.
''I'd much rather learn, teach, clean up after ugly wins than I would after tough losses,'' Malone said. ''That's the positive. We're finding ways to win when maybe we're not playing our `A' game.''
TIP-INS
Knicks: New York's last win in Denver was Nov. 8, 2006, when Carmelo Anthony suited up for the Nuggets. ... F Noah Vonleh grabbed 14 rebounds. ... F Kevin Knox scored 18.
Nuggets: The only starter now missing is Will Barton, who's getting closer to a return after surgery to repair a hip/core muscle injury. ... G Torrey Craig scored 13.
MUDIAY'S RETURN
Mudiay scored 15 points against the team that selected him seventh overall in the 2015 draft. The Nuggets dealt him to the Knicks last February.
''That's one of my good friends,'' Harris said. ''I'm happy to see his success in New York.''
HAPPY BIRTHDAY?
Although a popular basketball site lists Malone's birthday as Jan. 1, 1971, he insisted it was not his birthday.
''Somebody else sent me a random text of happy birthday,'' Malone said. ''It's a mystery. Don't believe everything you read.''
Asked when his birthday was, Malone joked: ''You writing a book?''
UP NEXT
Knicks: Stop No. 4 on their six-game trip will be Friday in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
Nuggets: At Sacramento on Thursday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jumpball | |||
11:33 | Mason Plumlee missed hook shot | |||
11:30 | Defensive rebound by Tim Hardaway Jr. | |||
11:16 | +3 | Luke Kornet made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tim Hardaway Jr. | 3-0 | |
10:53 | Defensive rebound by Luke Kornet | |||
10:41 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed fade-away jump shot | |||
10:25 | Nikola Jokic missed hook shot | |||
10:16 | +2 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made jump shot, assist by Noah Vonleh | 5-0 | |
9:57 | +2 | Torrey Craig made reverse layup, assist by Nikola Jokic | 5-2 | |
9:44 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Jokic | |||
9:29 | +3 | Torrey Craig made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nikola Jokic | 5-5 | |
9:15 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed finger-roll layup | |||
9:13 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Jokic | |||
9:08 | +2 | Jamal Murray made dunk, assist by Nikola Jokic | 5-7 | |
8:50 | +3 | Torrey Craig made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jamal Murray | 5-10 | |
8:30 | +3 | Kevin Knox made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Emmanuel Mudiay | 8-10 | |
8:10 | Defensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
8:05 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed driving layup, blocked by Nikola Jokic | |||
8:01 | Offensive rebound by Emmanuel Mudiay | |||
8:00 | Kevin Knox missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
7:46 | Defensive rebound by Mason Plumlee | |||
7:33 | +2 | Mason Plumlee made alley-oop shot, assist by Nikola Jokic | 8-12 | |
7:15 | +3 | Luke Kornet made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Kevin Knox | 11-12 | |
6:53 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Knox | |||
6:44 | +2 | Emmanuel Mudiay made jump shot | 13-12 | |
6:31 | Shooting foul on Luke Kornet | |||
6:31 | +1 | Juancho Hernangomez made 1st of 2 free throws | 13-13 | |
6:31 | +1 | Juancho Hernangomez made 2nd of 2 free throws | 13-14 | |
6:18 | Violation | |||
5:58 | Paul Millsap missed fade-away jump shot | |||
5:56 | Offensive rebound by Torrey Craig | |||
5:51 | Bad pass turnover on Nikola Jokic, stolen by Kevin Knox | |||
5:46 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed layup, blocked by Torrey Craig | |||
5:46 | NY team rebound | |||
5:41 | Personal foul on Gary Harris | |||
5:24 | Lost ball turnover on Emmanuel Mudiay, stolen by Paul Millsap | |||
5:17 | Gary Harris missed reverse layup | |||
5:14 | Defensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
5:09 | Personal foul on Paul Millsap | |||
4:53 | Noah Vonleh missed hook shot | |||
4:43 | +3 | Juancho Hernangomez made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nikola Jokic | 15-17 | |
4:26 | Noah Vonleh missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:09 | +2 | Nikola Jokic made layup | 15-19 | |
4:09 | Shooting foul on Noah Vonleh | |||
4:09 | +1 | Nikola Jokic made free throw | 15-20 | |
3:58 | +2 | Frank Ntilikina made jump shot, assist by Enes Kanter | 17-20 | |
3:44 | +2 | Jamal Murray made driving dunk, assist by Nikola Jokic | 17-22 | |
3:33 | Kevin Knox missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:30 | Defensive rebound by Paul Millsap | |||
3:06 | +2 | Kevin Knox made floating jump shot, assist by Frank Ntilikina | 19-22 | |
3:06 | Shooting foul on Juancho Hernangomez | |||
3:06 | Kevin Knox missed free throw | |||
3:04 | Defensive rebound by Paul Millsap | |||
2:42 | +2 | Malik Beasley made jump shot, assist by Mason Plumlee | 19-24 | |
2:24 | Frank Ntilikina missed finger-roll layup | |||
2:23 | Shooting foul on Paul Millsap | |||
2:23 | +1 | Enes Kanter made 1st of 2 free throws | 20-24 | |
2:23 | +1 | Enes Kanter made 2nd of 2 free throws | 21-24 | |
2:05 | Gary Harris missed floating jump shot | |||
2:03 | Offensive rebound by Paul Millsap | |||
1:51 | +2 | Mason Plumlee made dunk, assist by Gary Harris | 21-26 | |
1:39 | Personal foul on Mason Plumlee | |||
1:39 | +1 | Enes Kanter made 1st of 2 free throws | 22-26 | |
1:39 | +1 | Enes Kanter made 2nd of 2 free throws | 23-26 | |
1:24 | +2 | Paul Millsap made hook shot, assist by Malik Beasley | 23-28 | |
1:05 | +2 | Kevin Knox made driving layup, assist by Damyean Dotson | 25-28 | |
1:05 | Shooting foul on Mason Plumlee | |||
1:05 | +1 | Kevin Knox made free throw | 26-28 | |
0:59 | Lost ball turnover on Monte Morris, stolen by Frank Ntilikina | |||
0:56 | +2 | Kevin Knox made finger-roll layup, assist by Frank Ntilikina | 28-28 | |
0:56 | Shooting foul on Mason Plumlee | |||
0:56 | +1 | Kevin Knox made free throw | 29-28 | |
0:34 | Monte Morris missed floating jump shot | |||
0:30 | Trey Lyles missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:27 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
0:05 | +3 | Frank Ntilikina made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Damyean Dotson | 32-28 | |
0:00 | Monte Morris missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:00 | DEN team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:44 | +2 | Allonzo Trier made driving layup, assist by Frank Ntilikina | 34-28 | |
11:17 | Nikola Jokic missed jump shot | |||
10:59 | Personal foul on Enes Kanter | |||
10:54 | Shooting foul on Damyean Dotson | |||
10:54 | +1 | Gary Harris made 1st of 2 free throws | 36-29 | |
10:54 | +1 | Gary Harris made 2nd of 2 free throws | 36-30 | |
10:32 | Noah Vonleh missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
10:30 | Offensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
10:30 | 24-second shot clock violation turnover | |||
10:21 | Gary Harris missed finger-roll layup | |||
10:19 | Defensive rebound by Enes Kanter | |||
10:15 | +2 | Allonzo Trier made finger-roll layup | 38-30 | |
9:51 | Defensive rebound by Allonzo Trier | |||
9:47 | Allonzo Trier missed layup, blocked by Trey Lyles | |||
9:45 | Defensive rebound by Malik Beasley | |||
9:42 | Shooting foul on Frank Ntilikina | |||
9:42 | +1 | Gary Harris made 1st of 2 free throws | 38-31 | |
9:42 | +1 | Gary Harris made 2nd of 2 free throws | 38-32 | |
9:22 | Frank Ntilikina missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
9:18 | Offensive rebound by Noah Vonleh | |||
9:17 | +2 | Noah Vonleh made dunk | 40-32 | |
9:00 | +3 | Trey Lyles made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nikola Jokic | 40-35 | |
8:48 | Shooting foul on Trey Lyles | |||
8:48 | +1 | Enes Kanter made 1st of 2 free throws | 41-35 | |
8:44 | Defensive rebound by Torrey Craig | |||
8:26 | Offensive foul on Nikola Jokic | |||
8:26 | Offensive foul on Nikola Jokic | |||
8:07 | +2 | Enes Kanter made hook shot | 43-35 | |
7:46 | +3 | Malik Beasley made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Nikola Jokic | 43-38 | |
7:37 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed jump shot | |||
7:35 | Defensive rebound by Trey Lyles | |||
7:23 | +2 | Trey Lyles made layup, assist by Nikola Jokic | 43-40 | |
7:09 | +2 | Luke Kornet made dunk, assist by Allonzo Trier | 45-40 | |
6:52 | Personal foul on Allonzo Trier | |||
6:52 | DEN team rebound | |||
6:42 | +2 | Trey Lyles made dunk, assist by Nikola Jokic | 45-42 | |
6:28 | +3 | Allonzo Trier made 3-pt. jump shot | 48-42 | |
6:16 | +2 | Nikola Jokic made floating jump shot, assist by Jamal Murray | 48-44 | |
6:06 | +3 | Luke Kornet made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Emmanuel Mudiay | 51-44 | |
5:53 | Jamal Murray missed jump shot | |||
5:52 | Offensive rebound by Trey Lyles | |||
5:51 | +2 | Trey Lyles made dunk | 51-46 | |
5:35 | +2 | Emmanuel Mudiay made jump shot | 53-46 | |
5:13 | Torrey Craig missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
5:09 | Defensive rebound by Luke Kornet | |||
5:02 | Kevin Knox missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:59 | Defensive rebound by Jamal Murray | |||
4:46 | Shooting foul on Luke Kornet | |||
4:46 | DEN team rebound | |||
4:46 | Paul Millsap missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
4:46 | Paul Millsap missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
4:43 | Offensive rebound by Juancho Hernangomez | |||
4:41 | Trey Lyles missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:38 | Defensive rebound by Emmanuel Mudiay | |||
4:27 | +3 | Tim Hardaway Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Emmanuel Mudiay | 56-46 | |
4:09 | Paul Millsap missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
4:06 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Knox | |||
3:58 | Allonzo Trier missed jump shot | |||
3:55 | Defensive rebound by Jamal Murray | |||
3:56 | Jamal Murray missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
3:49 | Defensive rebound by Allonzo Trier | |||
3:35 | Allonzo Trier missed jump shot | |||
3:33 | Defensive rebound by Paul Millsap | |||
3:26 | Paul Millsap missed floating jump shot | |||
3:24 | Defensive rebound by Luke Kornet | |||
3:18 | Kevin Knox missed layup | |||
3:15 | Defensive rebound by Trey Lyles | |||
3:00 | Shooting foul on Luke Kornet | |||
3:00 | +1 | Paul Millsap made 1st of 2 free throws | 56-47 | |
3:00 | Paul Millsap missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
2:58 | Defensive rebound by Kevin Knox | |||
2:48 | Shooting foul on Jamal Murray | |||
2:48 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
2:48 | NY team rebound | |||
2:48 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
2:46 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Jokic | |||
2:26 | +2 | Malik Beasley made jump shot, assist by Paul Millsap | 56-49 | |
2:09 | Personal foul on Nikola Jokic | |||
1:57 | Tim Hardaway Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
1:53 | Noah Vonleh missed hook shot | |||
1:51 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Jokic | |||
1:39 | +2 | Nikola Jokic made floating jump shot, assist by Torrey Craig | 56-51 | |
1:19 | Enes Kanter missed reverse layup, blocked by Nikola Jokic | |||
1:18 | Defensive rebound by Paul Millsap | |||
1:13 | Shooting foul on Enes Kanter | |||
1:13 | Paul Millsap missed 1st of 2 free throws | |||
1:13 | DEN team rebound | |||
1:13 | Paul Millsap missed 2nd of 2 free throws | |||
1:11 | Offensive rebound by Torrey Craig | |||
1:07 | +2 | Nikola Jokic made hook shot, assist by Jamal Murray | 56-53 | |
0:48 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed finger-roll layup, blocked by Nikola Jokic | |||
0:46 | Defensive rebound by Nikola Jokic | |||
0:43 | +2 | Torrey Craig made dunk, assist by Paul Millsap | 56-55 | |
0:25 | Emmanuel Mudiay missed finger-roll layup | |||
0:22 | Lost ball turnover on Emmanuel Mudiay, stolen by Paul Millsap | |||
0:00 | Malik Beasley missed 3-pt. jump shot | |||
0:00 | DEN team rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |