Two starters , one to go.

Gary Harris returned by his hip injury Tuesday night in the Pepsi Center, along with the Nuggets fended off a feisty New York Knicks team 115-108 to improve to 24-11. It had been the Nuggets’ ninth successive win in the home along with also the Knicks’ eighth straight loss overall.

Nikola Jokic welcomed his teammate back having an extraordinary triple-double of 19 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds. The concluding portion of the next triple-double of the season has been a no-looker that found Malik Beasley near the hoop for an easy bucket. Beasley was excellent with 23 points off the bench, for example five 3-pointers.

“That’therefore exactly what he can,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of Jokic’s night. “I’kindly say that the 15 assists (stood out). They had been blitzing, they were very aggressive in pick-and-rolls. When teams are placing two on the ball you have gotta make quick decisions. ”

The Nuggets’ offense hummed with 36 assists on 44 made field goals, but it’s still not whole.  May Barton, that ’so expected to return shortly from his October operation, is the lone newcomer the first-place Nuggets are still missing.

The Nuggets failed to assert their imprint on the match before early in the fourth quarter. Beasley hit 3-pointers, both aided by Monte Morris, and Paul Millsap hit several difficult jumpers to keep momentum. Beasley sunk another minutes later and held the present because the Nuggets went 103-96.

To their credit, the Knicks didn’t quit. Rookie Kevin Knox had 18 points and Enes Kanter finished with 17 to lead six Knicks player in double figures. Jokic all but ended the Knicks’ odds, however, with a crushing corner 3-pointer to give the Nuggets a 109-102 lead with under three minutes .

Malone didn’t have an answer when asked how he would handle the minutes along with the rotations because his group continues to get healthier. Together with Harris, who scored six pointsback and Barton expected to go back shortly, Malone is going to be made to rest men who helped the group thrive in December despite their relative inexperience.

“I don’t have an answer yet,” Malone said. “I think it’s going to become something which we answer as we go along and answer and fix and solve as players start to return. … Those men, it’s quite essential for all them to know, none of them wants to return and become Mighty Mouse. We don’t need anyone to save the day. We’re in a fantastic location. ‘Come right back, do your part. Contribute. ’ ”

Their returns Will Likely influence location starters Juancho Hernangomez and Torrey Craig, along with Beasley and Trey Lyles. Hernangomez and Craig are valuable in their roles, although Beasley continues to prove himself a legitimate offensive threat.

“I think men understand that we are becoming a lot closer to having a healthy roster andI think with that delight, there&; rsquo;s concern, as there are men that have moved into starting roles or significant roles from the bench that know when we are full and full, those moments might not be exactly what theyrsquo;t become accustomed to,” Malone said. “Whether you’re starting or coming from the chair, take your character and do it with a positive mindset because all that matters is us ongoing to triumph. ”

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The Nuggets needed to address questions of complacency after entering 2019 in first place in the Western Conference.   Their final win of 2018 (in Phoenix) revealed that a team at risk of becoming “exhausted with success,” based on Malone.

“It’s never about who ’re enjoying,” Malone said. “It’s holding ourselves to the greatest standard possible. ”

The Nuggets recovered after a lackadaisical start to the year. The Knicks led by 10 points with 4:27 left in the second quarter before the Nuggets reeled off a 9-0 run to end the first half 56-55. Jokic, acting like a point-center, tallied two points, 10 assists, and six rebounds. He also finished the half with three cubes.

Craig, construction on his strong December, knocked down a few timely 3-pointers to go along with his stout shield, along with Murray rocked the Pepsi Center using 2 first-quarter dunks.

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