Jokic abuses listless Knicks with career-high 40 points
Perhaps James Dolan has banned the Knicks' defense from Madison Square Garden as well.
New York gave up 131 points to the Denver Nuggets Friday - a season-high in regulation - and allowed 21-year-old center Nikola Jokic to drop a career-high 40 points on 17-of-23 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and five assists. It was the second-most points ever scored by a Denver player at MSG, only one off David Thompson's 41 in 1978.
Of course, with defense like this, Jokic encountered little resistance.
Jokic gets just a little bit open here.
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) February 11, 2017
(Oak would lay him out next time down the floor for that pause) pic.twitter.com/s8uA5KCBbr
As a team, the Nuggets shot 56 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc. Jameer Nelson was 4-for-6 from deep, logging 12 assists to go with 16 points.
Related: 'Charles Oakley' chants erupt at MSG during Knicks-Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony played well for New York with 33 points on 65 percent shooting, but these facts remain as the sixth anniversary of his trade from Denver approaches:
Since Carmelo Anthony Trade
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 11, 2017
Nuggets 236-236
Knicks 212-265