After they made him look average, the best basketball player on the planet declared the Knicks a legit title contender.
“They’re playing really well,” Nikola Jokic said. “They’re well coached, they’re pushing the pace, and in the half-court they know what they’re doing. So they’re a really good team.
“I think they are the favorites — not the favorites, but I think top five candidates for the title.”
Besieged by early foul trouble, and flustered late by the Knicks’ aggressiveness, Jokic, the Nuggets’ triple-double machine, produced a single-double with just 17 points in New York’s fifth straight victory, 122-112 over Denver on Wednesday.
Jalen Brunson was the best player on either team at MSG, racking up 30 points with 15 assists.
The streaking Knicks (32-16), who now have consecutive statement wins after destroying the Grizzlies on Monday, remain one game back of second in the East behind the Celtics, who blew out the Bulls on Wednesday.
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t want to get caught up in any contention talk — “I have a lot of experience, if you can take care of the present, the future will take care of itself,” he said — but accepted kudos for stifling Jokic.
The former MVP recorded just six assists and six rebounds on 6-for-15 shooting — all well below his MVP-caliber averages.
“He’s one of the best players in the NBA. So it takes a team effort and be willing to take the competition and take the matchup,” Towns said. “And all I can say for me is I wanted to make it difficult on him and make him have to consistently think about the pressure we had to apply.
“When you have a player who is that special, you want to make it as difficult as possible. And I think that’s what our team did is just try to make him think, try to make him second-guess, which is something he doesn’t do much of. He’s so talented.”
Jokic’s rhythm was off from the beginning, having picked up two fouls after about two minutes.
With Jokic sitting all but nine minutes of the opening half, the Knicks took an early 12-point lead and held a six-point edge at the break.
Then Brunson took over with 18 points in the third quarter, sending Denver’s defenders in circles.
The Knicks led the entire second half.
They’ve also accumulated 408 points in consecutive wins over the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Kings, a franchise record for points over a three-game span.
“He was just special,” Towns said of Brunson. “Cap’ is special. Everyone knows. We needed him to score tonight, we needed him to do what he does best. And he did that. That’s why he’s special. Whenever his name is called in the biggest moment, he’s ready.”
Brunson was helped by five other Knicks scoring in double digits, including 23 from OG Anunoby.
Anunoby continued his resurgent end of January, dropping 14 points in the first half on 6-for-7 shooting.
For Anunoby, who scored a career-high 40 points in Denver in late November, there’s something about facing the Nuggets.
And for Towns, who eliminated Jokic in the playoffs last season with the Timberwolves, there’s something about facing the Nuggets.
“Right now, the Knicks are firing on all cylinders,” Denver coach Mike Malone said. “I don’t see a weakness. And that’s always scary when you are about to play a team that is playing well.”
The Knicks have won five of their past six against the Nuggets (28-19), a surprising record considering Denver has resided in title contention the past few years.
Now, as Jokic recognized, the Knicks look closer to that status.
“We’re in a good spot right now,” Brunson said. “I love how we’re playing. It’s something we’ve got to continue.”
