NBA Game of the Week: Nuggets vs. Knicks
The Denver Nuggets will be taking on the New York Knicks, tipping off at 1:00 p.m. on March 18 at Madison Square Garden.
The hometown Knicks come into this game on a two-game win streak which helps snap a three game losing streak. They currently rank third in the Atlantic with a record of 41-30 trailing both the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. Although they rank third in the Atlantic they are sitting nicely as the fifth seed in the East for the playoffs.
Statistically, the Knicks are led by Julius Randle who is averaging a double double with 25.2 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. Not far behind is point guard Jalen Brunson, who was the prized acquisition for the Knicks in the offseason and has lived up to it averaging 23.8 points per game. With those two as the leaders and having the compliments of RJ Barrett as well as Immanuel Quickley who has been heating up as of late, it is not a surprise their record is as it shows.
When it comes to injuries, Brunson is currently nursing a foot injury and missed the team’s most recent game against the Trail Blazers. It is unknown if he will be playing or not against the Nuggets. Another guard on the injury report is Duane Washington Jr. who is listed as day-to-day.
Shifting out West to Denver, the Nuggets are obviously led by their star center Nikola Jokic. Jokic is a familiar name to the MVP race as he has been named MVP for the past two seasons. He is averaging 24.7 points, 10 assists and 11.9 rebounds this season which is a triple double and will put him right in the history books if those numbers stand. Starting point guard Jamal Murray is Jokic’s main counterpart as he is averaging 20 points per game.
At the time of this writing, the Nuggets are on a four game losing streak and are looking to change that against the Pistons. Luckily enough for them, there is a major buffer between them and the Timberwolves who are next in the division. Minnesota is 11.5 games behind Denver which means they have a buffer, but cannot let multiple losses rack up.
Guard Collin Gillespie has a lower leg injury which is keeping him out of the game against the Pistons. Other than that, the Nuggets roster is relatively healthy. Their starting lineup is full of well known players that have proven themselves around the league. Other than Jokic and Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon round out their starting five who can hold their own against every team in the NBA.
In their last five meetings against each other, the Nuggets have taken four of the five matchups. For this game, the lowest ticket prices are around $178 which is a lot higher than any other game that day.
Joey David is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jtd5508@psu.edu.
