Brunson erupts as Knicks outlast Nuggets in double OT for eighth straight win
At A Glance
- NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson had 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the New York Knicks outlasted the Denver Nuggets, 134-127, in two overtimes Wednesday night, Feb. 4, for their eighth straight victory.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives past Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson had 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the New York Knicks outlasted the Denver Nuggets, 134-127, in two overtimes Wednesday night, Feb. 4, for their eighth straight victory.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 12 rebounds while playing with a bandage over his right eye after he was bloodied in a head-to-head collision in the first quarter. He fouled out in the first overtime, but Brunson took over with 10 points in the second extra period.
Jamal Murray scored 39 points for the Nuggets, while Nikoka Jokic had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-double since returning from a knee injury last week. Denver lost its third straight, having fallen to conference leaders Oklahoma City and Detroit in his previous two games.
The Knicks had won by an average of 24.7 points during their winning streak before Wednesday's thriller in which neither team led by double digits. OG Anunoby scored 20 points.
The Nuggets lost starting forwards Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones to injuries during the game, with Watson limping off in the fourth quarter with an apparent right leg injury,
The Knicks appeared to have it won in the first overtime when Murray was short on a 3-point attempt in the last second. But officials whistled Mikal Bridges for a loose-ball foul against Christian Braun that review showed came before the clock expired. Braun hit the two free throws with 0.3 seconds left to tie it at 119.
Brunson then scored the first six points of the second OT.
Towns was driving to the basket in the first quarter when he banged heads with Jones, opening a cut over his right eye. After getting treated and bandaged, he made the free throws in his blood-stained white jersey before going directly to the locker room.
Meanwhile, Keldon Johnson scored 25 points, Victor Wembanyama had 22 points and 14 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs never trailed in a 116-106 victory over injury-depleted Oklahoma City, beating the reigning NBA champion Thunder for a fourth time this season.
De'Aaron Fox had 15 points and 10 assists, rookie forward Carter Bryant matched a season high with 11 points as San Antonio won its second straight.
The Spurs (34-16) closed to within five games of the Western Conference-leading Thunder (40-12).
Kenrich Williams scored 25 points and Jaylin Williams added 24 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which had only eight active players.
Reigning MVP and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed the game with an abdominal strain. The Thunder were without their entire regular starting lineup on the second night of a back-to-back.