Knicks outlast Nuggets in double OT as Brunson–Murray duel fuels New York’s 8th straight win

Jalen Brunson and Jamal Murray turned Madison Square Garden into a shot-making marathon Wednesday night, but it was the Knicks who finished last, beating the Nuggets 134–127 in double overtime for their eighth consecutive victory. Nikola Jokić posted another triple-double for Denver, yet New York’s late-game execution—and a few timely threes—made the difference in a game that repeatedly swung on single possessions.

The Knicks needed both overtimes to close it after chances in regulation and the first extra period slipped away, but they kept their composure in the second overtime behind Brunson’s control of tempo and a defense that finally forced Denver into tougher looks.

Brunson vs. Murray delivered the show

Brunson’s night was built on patience: probing, drawing help, and rising into short pull-ups when the lane closed. Murray countered with burst scoring—step-backs, transition threes, and quick-hit attacks off screens that kept Denver alive even when the Knicks appeared to have separation.

The duel peaked late. Brunson delivered the decisive spurt in the second overtime, scoring six straight points to break a tie and then creating an easy finish for a teammate as Denver’s defense collapsed toward him. Murray nearly stole it earlier, but a potential game-winner at the end of the first overtime didn’t fall.

Jokić’s triple-double wasn’t enough

Jokić filled the box score and kept Denver’s offense functioning when possessions bogged down. He repeatedly found cutters and shooters from the elbows and the post, and he worked the glass to extend possessions.

But Denver’s attack became increasingly dependent on difficult makes late, and Jokić’s perimeter shooting was unusually cold on a night when the Nuggets needed efficient offense to match New York’s shot volume. The Knicks were willing to live with some of the jumpers if it meant limiting clean looks at the rim and staying attached to Murray’s pull-up game.

Key numbers from the night

The moments that swung two overtimes

New York didn’t win because everything was clean—it won because it survived the messy parts. In regulation, the Knicks had a path to put the game away but gave Denver extra oxygen with late possessions that didn’t produce stops.

In overtime, the margin came down to three themes:

• Late-shot execution: Brunson consistently generated a look—either for himself in the midrange or for a shooter when help arrived.

• Defensive rebounding under pressure: The Knicks limited Denver’s second-chance points in the final stretch after earlier lapses.

• Timely spacing makes: New York hit key threes when Denver’s defense pinched in, including a corner look in the second overtime that helped tilt the final run.

Denver’s issue was less about effort and more about precision. The Nuggets got good moments from Murray and steady orchestration from Jokić, but they didn’t consistently produce the kind of clean attempts that win double-overtime games on the road.

What it means for New York’s streak

Eight straight wins is more than a hot week—it’s a signal that the Knicks can win in multiple styles. This game wasn’t a smooth, wire-to-wire performance. It was a stress test: late leads, momentum flips, overtime fatigue, and a top-tier opponent with the best player on the floor.

The Knicks passed it with two traits that travel: a guard who can control the end of games, and enough shot-making around him to punish help. If they keep getting this version of Brunson, the baseline for New York shifts from “solid playoff team” to “problem matchup.”

Denver’s takeaway: the margins in close games

For Denver, this loss will sting because it was within reach repeatedly. The Nuggets showed they can generate elite offense even when the opponent loads up on Jokić, but their late-game outcomes still hinge on whether Murray (or a secondary option) can reliably create separation when defenses tighten.

The encouraging sign is that Denver’s process largely held up—ball movement, spacing, and Jokić’s playmaking were there. The concern is that in the biggest moments, one or two empty trips can swing an entire night, and New York was just sharper when the game demanded it.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, NBA.com, ESPN, Reuters