The Denver Nuggets may have been the visiting team at Madison Square Garden, but Nikola Jokic made himself right at home. In the thick of a physical, back-and-forth battle with the red-hot New York Knicks, the reigning three-time MVP delivered a reminder of why he’s still the most gifted passer in the game - and it came in the form of a jaw-dropping highlight that lit up social media.
Midway through the third quarter, with Denver trailing 61-58, Jokic pulled off a play that perfectly captured his unique blend of vision, timing, and confidence. Standing near the high post, he didn’t so much as glance at the basket.
Instead, he whipped a no-look laser through the heart of the Knicks’ defense - a pass only he would even think to attempt - hitting Peyton Watson in stride for an emphatic dunk. The slam silenced the Garden, if only for a moment, and reminded everyone watching that Jokic doesn’t need to score to take over a game.
That single play was a snapshot of what makes Denver’s offense so difficult to contain. Jokic commands so much attention as a scorer that defenders often lose track of the cutters around him - and Watson, to his credit, timed his move perfectly.
The 21-year-old forward took full advantage of the defensive lapse, cutting baseline and trusting that his MVP big man would find him. He wasn’t wrong.
Nikola Jokic caught the defense off guard with a bullet pass 😲 pic.twitter.com/bCF6FqJRch
— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) February 5, 2026
At that point in the game, Jokic was already in full control, tallying 18 points on an efficient 6-of-11 shooting clip. But it was his ability to manipulate the defense with his passing that was really tilting the floor in Denver’s favor. Watson, inserted into the starting lineup, had 10 points of his own - not a breakout scoring night, but a solid contribution that helped keep the Nuggets within striking distance.
The Knicks, winners of seven straight coming in, weren’t making it easy. Jalen Brunson continued to steer the offense with poise, while OG Anunoby’s two-way presence gave New York a physical edge. But Denver’s ability to manufacture high-percentage looks - often out of nothing - was keeping the game tight heading into crunch time.
With the fourth quarter on deck and the Garden crowd at full volume, the Nuggets were leaning on what’s become their calling card: composure under pressure. Championship DNA doesn’t guarantee wins, but it gives you a roadmap when things get tense. And when you’ve got Jokic pulling the strings, even the best defenses can be made to look a step slow.
If that connection between Jokic and Watson continues to click, the Knicks' impressive streak could be in real jeopardy.