Rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis returned to the New York Knicks starting lineup Tuesday night, after a one game absence due to a lower left leg contusion.
Unfortunately, glue-man Lance Thomas suffered a non-contact knee injury during warm-ups for the Denver Nuggets game. Thomas needed assistance to get off the court.
A non-contact injury. Lance Thomas planted his foot as he prepared to take a shot and hurt his knee. https://t.co/FPB0UfTUp0
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) March 9, 2016
Fortunately there was some good news from the organization despite how grimed it looked being carried off the court.
An MRI for Lance Thomas tonight showed no structural damage. #Knicks
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 9, 2016
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Denver quickly got a jump on New York right from tip-off, going ahead 8-0 to start the game. The Knicks though immediately responded with a 8-0 run of their own to tie the game up.
Porzingis was taken out of the game midway through the opening period after a couple of quick ill-advised shots, something that interim head coach Kurt Rambis has called out the rookie for recently. That, combined with Porzingis’ poor defense against fellow rookie Nikola Jokic got the young Latvian benched. Jokic schooled him a couple of times in the post.
Nikola Jokic with the SWEET post moves, leaving Porzingis lost with the up-and-underhttps://t.co/8JGBqm3Ajz
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) March 9, 2016
Jokic is incredibly impressive, the 6’10” center from Serbia also showed an ability to pass the ball well – connecting on an alley opp with Gary Harris from the high-post late in the first quarter.
Nikola provides the alley.
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 9, 2016
G provides the oop!#ThatsG #Nuggets https://t.co/iX9Ery34Nm
The Nuggets led 31-25 after one quarter of play, with Emmanuel Mudiay leading the way with ten of his total 15 points in the opening quarter. Mudiay led the Nuggets attack, getting to the paint LITERALLY whenever he wanted. There was absolutely no defense from New York in the first quarter (whole game) as Denver scored 24 points in the paint in the first quarter! And ten fast break points… in the FIRST QUARTER!
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Denver would lead by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, as they continued to freely score in the paint… but a mini 6-2 run by New York made the deficit a little bit more manageable going into halftime; 60-49.
The Nuggets really shared the ball well in the first half, collecting 15 assists on 26 made field goals. Also, all but one starter was already in double-figures scoring by intermission.
Although, New York was able to continue their run after halftime, starting the second half on a 7-0 run which cut the deficit down to 60-56. But the Knicks would continue to let the Nuggets get easy baskets…
Pretty sweet first bucket in blue and gold for Axel!#WelcomeToDenver #Nuggets https://t.co/KYGGfNkndc
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 9, 2016
Denver however grew their lead back to double-digits before the period was over, leading 82-68 after three quarters of play.
New York Knicks
New York would get within reaching distance a few times in the fourth quarter, but the result was never in doubt as the Knicks continued to allow the Nuggets to parade to the paint for layups or dunks. Denver would add another 16 points in the paint in the fourth quarter, for a grand total of 62 points in the paint by the Nuggets on Tuesday night…
New York wasted a good shooting game from Carmelo Anthony, who scored 30 points on 9-for-18 shooting. Anthony clearly wanted to win against his former team, but the Knicks eventually fall 110-94.
Besides Anthony, Derrick Williams was the only player who had a decent game for New York. Williams helped keep the Knicks in the game early on, scoring a dozen of his total 15 points in the first half.
Denver had seven players in double-figures scoring, led by the “Manimal”, who scored 24 points. Kenneth Faried also grabbed ten rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season.
But the most impressive player of the night was definitely the 41st overall pick in last year’s draft, Nikola Jokic. Jokic “posted and toasted” Porzingis, but he was also “wheeling and dealing”! Jokic grabbed the defensive rebound and went coast to coast multiple times Tuesday night, including a no-look pass to Faried on the fast break. He is 6’10”, 250 lbs… This kid has got some skills!
Nikola Jokic with a slick no-look pass to Fariedhttps://t.co/ZLPgiLXyao
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) March 9, 2016
Next: Carmelo Anthony Says Rajon Rondo Would Be ‘Perfect’ For the Triangle Offense THAT’S FALSE!
There will be no rest for New York, as they will immediately travel to Arizona to take on the Phoenix Suns Wednesday night. Hopefully… there won’t be another parade to the paint… -_-”