The Denver Nuggets walked into Madison Square Garden on fumes, and they nearly walked out with a gutsy win. Instead, they left with a double-overtime loss, more injury concerns, and a growing list of questions about how hard this team is pushing itself just to stay afloat.
Let’s set the stage: second night of a back-to-back, fresh off a battle with the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Now you’re facing the second-seeded New York Knicks, on national TV, with a rotation already stretched thin by injuries.
That’s a tough hand. But the Nuggets didn’t fold.
They fought. And they almost pulled off the improbable before falling 134-127 in a game that went the distance - and then some.
Jokic Goes the Distance - and Then Some
Nikola Jokic was supposed to be on a minutes restriction. That idea went out the window somewhere in the second half.
The reigning MVP played 45 minutes, finishing with a triple-double: 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. But this wasn’t peak Jokic.
He looked tired. He shot just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc, missed some key free throws late, and clearly didn’t have his usual touch.
Still, you could see how badly he wanted this one. He competed on every possession, even as his legs betrayed him.
But here’s the thing: sometimes the best way to protect your star is from himself. The Nuggets have to think about the long haul, and burning Jokic out in early February - especially on the second night of a back-to-back - raises red flags.
Murray’s Firepower, But at What Cost?
Jamal Murray was electric for most of the night. He poured in 39 points, grabbed five boards, and dished out six assists.
It was a vintage performance - until it wasn’t. Murray logged 48 minutes, and by the time the second overtime rolled around, the fatigue was showing.
He missed several shots he normally buries, and the legs just weren’t there.
You can’t question the effort. But you can wonder if the Nuggets are asking too much from their top guys, especially with the All-Star break just around the corner.
Injuries Piling Up
The rotation was already thin, and things only got worse. Spencer Jones left in the first quarter after a brutal collision with Karl-Anthony Towns that left both players bloodied.
Jones didn’t return. Then, in the fourth quarter, Peyton Watson grabbed at his right hamstring and exited - an eerily familiar sight after Aaron Gordon suffered a similar injury not long ago.
Watson was on pace to play 42 minutes before overtime. That’s a heavy load for a young player, especially on a back-to-back. And while Jones’ injury was a fluke, Watson’s felt more like the product of accumulated wear and tear.
Braun Grits It Out
Christian Braun, in just his second game back, also looked like he was on a minutes limit - but ended up playing 43. His offense wasn’t sharp, and he passed up several scoring chances.
But defensively, he brought energy and made plays. And when it mattered most, he stepped up, calmly knocking down two clutch free throws with 0.3 seconds left in the first overtime to force a second.
It wasn’t a perfect night for Braun, but he showed guts. The offensive rhythm will come. The effort’s already there.
Thin Rotation, Big Questions
The Nuggets went with a nine-man rotation, but it felt even tighter than that. None of Jalen Pickett, Zeke Nnaji, Hunter Tyson, or DaRon Holmes saw the floor.
Nnaji played just 35 seconds the night before. Denver has clearly shortened its bench in the hunt for wins, but the cost is starting to show.
This isn’t a new trend, either. Since Jokic went down in late December, the Nuggets have been playing high-effort, high-minute basketball.
And now, the bill is coming due. Fatigue is setting in.
Injuries are mounting. And the wins aren’t coming easily - or at all.
Looking Ahead
The Nuggets have three games left before the All-Star break. They’ll get two days off before facing the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
Maybe that rest was part of the calculus in pushing the starters so hard against the Knicks. Maybe.
But the bigger picture is hard to ignore. Denver is playing with urgency - maybe too much of it.
The trust in the deep bench just isn’t there, and it’s leading to heavy workloads for the core guys. The Nuggets are trying to stay in the fight, but they’re starting to look like a team that’s running on empty.
There’s no quit in this group. That much is clear. But if they don’t find a way to lighten the load soon, the second half of the season could get even tougher.