Brunson powers Knicks past Nuggets

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The New York Knicks, fueled by 42 points from Jalen Brunson, edged the Denver Nuggets, 134-127, in a double overtime thriller on Wednesday to push their National Basketball Association (NBA) winning streak to eight games.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 24 points and 12 rebounds and OG Anunoby scored 20 points for the Knicks, who withstood a triple-double of 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists from Denver’s three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and 39 points from Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.

The Knicks were up 119-117 after Towns’ layup with 1:01 left in the first overtime and thought they had locked up the victory after Murray missed a three-pointer with three-tenths of a second remaining.

But New York’s Mikal Bridges was whistled for a loose ball foul and Christian Braun drained two free throws to tie it and force the second overtime.

“It was really mentally tough,” Brunson told broadcaster ESPN once the Knicks had to regroup after starting their victory celebration.

“We could have quit, but we found a way.”

The back and forth battle at Madison Square Garden featured 20 lead changes.