DENVER — Josh Hart may want to visit a confessional or make peace with a higher power because his prayers went unanswered.
Asked before Thursday’s game how the Knicks could slow down Nikola Jokic, affable forward Hurts replied, “Pray.”
Jokic then had an easy triple-double for the Knicks, recording 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, and the Nuggets defeated New York 113–100.
The Knicks (41-28) ended their winning streak at 4, but fell short of the Magic, who were on a winning streak, and finished fifth in the East, but there was no answer and the end of a road trip with a 3-1 record. I felt humiliated.
“He’s MVP for a reason,” said Jalen Brunson, predicting it was inevitable that Jokic would win the award for the third time this season.
It’s not like the Knicks haven’t tried in the Mile High City.
As usual, Tom Thibodeau’s team hung on to the rope as long as possible.
The identity remained intact. Brunson had 26 points and nine assists. Isaiah Hartenstein added 20 points.
However, the Knicks were uncharacteristically outrebounded, 42-31, and allowed the Nuggets (49-21) to shoot 53.6 percent.
Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. (31 points, 13-of-16 shooting) had too much.
The Knicks won in Jokic’s time on the bench, but lost by 30 points in the 39 minutes Jokic played.
“As a 7-footer, he’s good at getting guys off his body,” said Hartenstein, who fouled out in the 26th minute trying to protect Jokic. “I think that’s probably true. I don’t think there are any players like that in the league. It might sound strange, but it’s usually easy for me to lead guys and get them where I want them to go. It’s easy to go. …You have to respect him. He does a great job. The way he moves is kind of unique. And he does a great job of getting you out of your body. So that was the hardest part.”
By the time Jokic entered the game for the final time, the Knicks had cut the lead to two points with 8 minutes, 19 seconds left.
After that, Jokic returned and the Nuggets went on a 7-0 run, enriching Tom Thibodeau’s team.
The shovel came after Alec Burks rapped Jamal Murray on a Nuggets breakaway, prompting a “take foul” call after review. Murray sank a foul shot and Jokic hit an off-balance -1 layup.
The four-point possession gave the Nuggets a nine-point lead with 5:13 left. The visitor never recovered.
“Obviously they’re champions for a reason,” Thibodeau said. “I thought we fought hard. We didn’t rebound well throughout the game. I thought the way we entered the game offensively was really good. And with eight minutes left in the fourth, it was a two-point game.”
The deck was stacked against the Knicks. He could have lost his schedule long before tipoff.
They were eager to return home after a 10-day, four-game road trip.
I took two days off to prepare, but the altitude is difficult for beginners.
Additionally, the Nuggets are the defending champions and are likely more motivated after being blown away by the Knicks at MSG in January.
“When you get kicked by a team, you give your team full attention,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said 90 minutes before the game’s opening buzzer.
“We don’t want to be carried away by anyone,” he added. “It’s more competitive. We remember what happened in the Garden and we use that as motivation.”
The Nuggets also have Jokic, the best player in the world, but the Knicks knew he would be a handful.
“He’s one of those guys that just can’t get up to speed,” said Hart, who struggled with just two points in 36 minutes. “You play tough defense, but he hit a majestic 35 feet and somehow managed to make it. He’s one of those guys that’s hard to slow down and influence. Of course. We need to be more physical and put a lot of ball pressure on him.
“Then pray.”
My prayers didn’t work.
