Deadspin | Knicks open difficult stretch of video games as Nuggets go to – Imperial Wire

Groups not often search for type factors throughout a seven-game profitable streak — particularly the New York Knicks, whose season was on the breaking point earlier than their present surge.

However the Knicks will begin a more difficult stretch Wednesday evening once they host the Denver Nuggets in a battle of NBA Finals contenders.

Each groups will full a back-to-back set after taking part in on the street Tuesday evening. The Knicks led wire-to-wire in a 132-101 rout of the Washington Wizards whereas the Nuggets’ comeback from a 20-point deficit fell quick in a 124-121 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

New York noticed seven gamers rating in double figures in opposition to the Knicks, led by Mikal Bridges, who scored 23 factors in 26 minutes.

The Knicks’ profitable streak — their longest since a nine-game run from Dec. 15, 2024, by Jan. 1, 2025 — contains 4 routs by greater than 25 factors. New York’s common margin of victory over the previous seven video games is 24.7 factors.

The Wizards have been the fourth sub-.500 sufferer of the streak for the Knicks, whose closest win was 112-109 on Jan. 24 over the Philadelphia 76ers, who occupy the sixth and remaining assured playoff spot within the Jap Convention.

New York additionally earned a 119-92 win over the Toronto Raptors, who’re tied for fourth place within the East, on Jan. 28 earlier than pulling away late in a 112-100 win Sunday over the Los Angeles Lakers, who stand fifth within the Western Convention.

The Knicks’ profitable streak was preceded by a stretch of 9 losses in 11 video games from Dec. 31 by Jan. 19 that included six double-digit defeats and left them simply 1 1/2 video games away from sixth place.

New York enters the Wednesday contest three video games forward of the sixth-place 76ers and tied for second place within the East with the Boston Celtics, whom the Knicks are slated to go to Sunday — two days after they go to the East-leading Detroit Pistons.

“We’ve numerous guys who can shoot it, we have now numerous guys who can put it on the ground and make performs,” Knicks coach Mike Brown stated. “However guys are attempting to play for each other with the proper spacing and making the proper choices, so it is numerous enjoyable to see when guys get rolling.”

The loss to the Pistons was the second straight in opposition to a probable high seed for the Nuggets, who’re in third place within the Western Convention. Denver was defeated 121-111 Sunday by the defending NBA champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

The back-to-back defeats mark the fourth time the Nuggets have misplaced consecutive video games within the final five-plus weeks, a span during which Denver has gone 11-10 total whereas coping with a spate of difficult roster points.

Three-time Most Worthwhile Participant Nikola Jokic missed 16 straight video games from Dec. 31 by final Thursday with a left knee harm. It was the longest absence in 10 NBA seasons for Jokic, who had 24 factors and 15 rebounds whereas taking part in slightly below 33 minutes Tuesday — his most motion since he performed 38 minutes in opposition to the Orlando Magic on Dec. 27.

Denver bought again beginning guard Christian Braun, however he was restricted to 6 factors over 26 minutes in his return from a power left ankle harm that price him the earlier 12 video games and has restricted him to 4 video games since Nov. 12.

The Nuggets additionally performed Tuesday with out Spencer Jones, who has established himself as a beginning energy ahead over the past two-plus months however has only one sport of eligibility left on his two-way deal.

“The problem for us proper now could be with all of the issues which are taking place — folks coming again, the minute restrictions — we have now to keep away from being attentive to that and we simply must play and cope with it as we go,” Nuggets coach David Adelman stated. “We’ll have some clunky moments.”

–Subject Stage Media