In a matchup billed as the Nuggets’ offense vs. the Knicks’ defense, it was Denver’s defense that prevailed, powering a 114-89 win over New York at Madison Square Garden. The Nuggets were assertive from tipoff, holding the Knicks scoreless for almost six minutes at the start of the second quarter. That would allow the visitors to pad their lead to 22. It was an advantage they wouldn’t look back on. Denver held the hosts to just 43.2 percent shooting en route to a 25-point lead.
"We were communicating and just flying around [on defense]," Gary Harris said of the team's approach. "It's not going to be perfect, but we know we have each other's backs and [we're] just going out there and playing hard."
The Nuggets held the Knicks to 45.5 percent on field goals, including 35.7 percent from downtown through the opening three quarters where their starters were in. They also forced 16 turnovers, which they scored 10 points on.
"I think our defense in the last five games [has improved] and I think we're 4-1 in our last five," Malone said. "I think our defense in the last five [games] has been a lot better than it was in the first five games, [it's] a marked improvement."
"The reality is if we want to be a winning team, a team that can contend for a playoff spot in the deep West, our defense had to improve. It has so far."
"He's making shots, that's the biggest thing. If you're confident in yourself, then you can drive and make plays for others...He's making shots the past few games so that's the best thing for him," Jokić said. Harris opened the season averaging 7.7 points on 35.8 percent shooting, including hitting just 12.5 percent from downtown, in Denver’s first six games. The final game of that span, a 124-109 win, saw Harris hit just one of eight shots. That clearly served a jolt for the longest-tenured Nugget. Entering Sunday’s contest, Harris averaged 15.3 points on 60.7 percent shooting. He has also seen his three-point shooting spike up, hitting 46.2 percent. Harris finished his night at The Garden with 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting and two steals. He’s been an invaluable part of the Nuggets’ recent 3-1 stretch.