DENVER — After Michael Malone described the Knicks as one of the NBA's “elite” offensive teams, they showed NBA coaches why on Monday night as they won a championship with an explosive show at Ball Arena. .
The Knicks rallied both sides of the game, sharing the ball and tying a franchise record with 45 assists in their most impressive win of the season, 145-118 against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
OG Anunoby, who signed the richest contract in team history ($212.5 million) in the summer, continued in November by hitting 16 of 23 from the floor and scoring a career-high 40 points, including He continued his scoring binge, including 5 of 7 hits. 3 point range.
“We're getting better every game, and I'm sure we'll continue to get better,” Anunoby said. Anunoby hit seven 3-pointers and scored a season-high 27 points before Saturday's loss to the Jazz. “[I am] It's just comfortable. …Just be ready to shoot and don’t turn down a shot. and [I’m] Hunt more. ”
Coach Thibodeau's team also bounced back from its defensive slump against Utah, but what stood out was the Knicks' energetic offense.
His 76 points through the first two quarters matched his most points scored in a first half this season, and his 45 assists tied the franchise record set in 1979.
Jalen Brunson had 23 points and a career-high 17 assists for the Knicks, who continue their five-game road trip with Dallas on Wednesday night. He became the first Knick player to reach at least 20th and 15th in those categories in the same game since Nate Robinson in 2008-09.
Karl-Anthony Towns remained in the lineup after being listed as questionable after posting a -34 grade against Utah and had 30 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks (10-7).
Jokic, a three-time MVP who averages a triple-double a season, was mainly guarded by Towns, who limited him to 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes for the Nuggets (9-7).
“He's definitely a great player. His record speaks for itself,” Thibodeau said. “What he's doing is really impressive. He just keeps getting better and better every year. It's a testament to the work he puts into his game.”
Meanwhile, Malone praised Thibodeau, noting that the Knicks have been an “elite” offensive team this season.
“The Tom Thibodeau haters of the world who say Tom Thibodeau doesn't coach offense need to really appreciate their team,” Malone said. “They're elite offensively.
“I think they're in the top five in almost every offensive category. Field goals, 3-pointers, free throws, offensive efficiency, this team has a lot of weapons. They're very efficient at everything they do. is.”
In a reversal for Thibodeau's team, the Knicks have struggled on the other side of the court so far this season, coming into the game ranked 21st in the NBA in defensive rating.
Anunoby, who averaged 20.0 points in November, made his first four shots (including two threes) and scored 12 points in the first quarter.
Jokic scored 13 points for the Nuggets, but Brunson also scored 12 points, giving the Knicks a one-point lead, 36-24. During this period, the Knicks shot 68.6 percent from the field (16-of-23) and held Denver to 39.1 percent (9-of-23).
Towns hit a 3-pointer and a down-the-lane dunk early in the second set, then extended his cushion to 21 points with his second trey less than three minutes into the quarter.
Towns primarily guarded Jokic, but Anunoby denied the later six-time All-Star Jokic and went the distance for a layup. He also collected a long feed off a steal by Josh Hart for an uncontested dunk, reaching 20 points before halftime as the Knicks entered halftime up 76-53, their highest scoring score in the first half of the season. Lined up.
Anunoby had two more dunks early in the third to extend the lead to 26 points, and the Nuggets never got closer than 17 points after that.
Anunoby, whose 36 points in the 2021 game between the Raptors and Knicks was a career high, hit two more 3-pointers late in the session to improve his career record and take a 113-87 lead into the final quarter. .
