The Knicks topped the Nuggets tonight, thanks to several (I counted at least three) big comebacks during the game.  Quick recap:

• The Knicks hit their first four FGs (Q-Rich hits two, Randolph hits a jumper, and Marbury feeds Curry a nice alley oop) for a 9-2 early lead.
• Zach Randolph throws an awful entry pass to Curry.  I like that he's looking for him, but that was ugly.  Three turnovers already for the Knicks in the first 5 minutes.
• Camby, on the other hand, can throw a pass - a nice alley oop to Linas Kleiza.  Kleiza is off to a good start.  Jamal Crawford makes every opposing SG look like Jordan, doesn't he?  His defense is... lacking.
• Camby's dumb cheap foul on David Lee means he has two fouls 8 minutes into the game.  He'll go to the bench, and the Knicks have an opportunity.
• Marbury gets called for a carry, as he does once a game now.  That's 7 turnovers with 2:00 to go in the 1st for the Knicks.
• Nate Robinson great feed to Balkman. 
  
• The Knicks shot 14-20 FG (70%), score 32 points, and are still losing by 5.  It's 37-32 after the 1st period.

2nd Quarter:

• Balkman draws a charge.  Hustle.  Harder.
• Crawford gets called for the hop step travel.  Turnover #8.  The Knicks can wait until the refs go back to ignoring carries and hop steps next week....
• The Nuggets are up 50-35 with 7:40 to go in the second quarter.  They have 50 points in 16+ minutes.  They are on pace to score 150 points.
  
• Time for a Knicks comeback.  Let's go through it in detail:

1. Crawford ends the drought by hitting a runner, and one.  38-50
2. Marbury drives, draws foul.  Hits 1 of 2.  39-50
3. Marbury nice feed to Crawford inside. 41-50.  Crawford has 9 points.
4. Carmelo Anthony ends the run.  41-52.
5. Marbury for three.  44-52.
   
6. Anthony for three.  44-55.
7. Q-Rich fast break layup.  46-55.
8. Marbury draws an offensive foul on JR Smith.  Nice defense.
9. Curry jump hook (Marbury assisted).  48-55.
10. Nuggets foul Q-Rich, who missed both FTs, but Randolph rebounds plus hits the shot.  50-55.  This is bold for a reason.  You'll see why later.
11. Anthony lay-up again puts the comeback on pause. 50-57.
12. Marbury misses a great driving layup, but then steals the ball back; Crawford finds Curry with the shot and one!  53-57.  Crawford and Marbury have a combined 11 assists already.
13. Iverson for two. 53-59.  Iverson has 14 points, 5 assists.
14. Crawford for three (assist from Richardson).  56-59.
15. Iverson gets fouled, hits one of two. 56-60.
16. Crawford with the backdoor alley oop to Curry for a dunk.  58-60.
17. Marbury misses layup, gets another quick steal, then tosses a great feed to Randolph, who can't handle it. Turnover #11.
18. Randolph has 8 rebounds, including 5 in the quarter.  Marbury hits Curry in the paint, who ties it up. 60-60.  That's 13 assists for the Knicks guards.

The half ends with Denver up 66-60.  The Knicks had 12 turnovers in the 1st half, but also had 16 assists.

3rd Quarter:

• The Knicks fall behind 71-60.  So here comes Lee and Balkman, at the same time.  Let's see how Comeback #2 goes down:

1. Lee gets a steal right away.
2. Balkman with a move?  62-71.
3. Crawford with the nice pass to Randolph.  64-72.
4. Lee with a nice rebound off a Randolph miss, puts it back with the dunk.  66-74.
5. Balkman blocks Anthony, then gets a dunk on the other end as he gets a great feed from Nate.  The crowd is pumped, time out Denver. 76-81.
6. Balkman with great defense in post, and Lee draws the offensive foul on Najera.
7. Crawford hits the 18-foot jumper. 80-82.
8. Balkman forces the traveling violation on Denver, thanks to his tough defense.
9. Crawford again with an 18-foot jumper, from the same spot. 82-82.  Jamal has 20 points and 7 assists.
   

Of course the Nuggets respond (Iverson and Anthony), and the Knicks are down 92-82 by the end of the third quarter.  The Knicks go scoreless for the last four minutes of the quarter, while Denver goes on a 10-0 run.

4th Quarter:
Comeback #3:

1. Marbury hits a quick three. 85-92.
2. Lee with a block, Balkman with the coast to coast fast break (he took it himself).  Nice play.  87-92.
3. Marbury with a flip in, and it's now 89-92, 90 seconds into the fourth.  Denver takes a timeout.
4. Nene with a jumper. 89-94
5. Curry misses an alley oop from David Lee.  Another close miss.
6. Crawford to Lee for a dunk.  91-94.  8 assists for Crawford.
7. Balkman and Lee grab the rebound off Marbury's miss, Balkman lays it up and in. 93-94.
8. Melo for 2.  93-96.
9. Marbury assist #8 in post to Curry for another dunk.  95-96.  
10. Curry hits big FT to make it 96-98.  He's 8/12 on FG, despite missing at least two really easy shots.
    
11. Iverson hits the jumper. 96-100, 6:55 to go.
12. Curry offensive rebound; Marbury inside to Randolph for assist # 9.  98-100.
13. Balkman draws a charge on Melo!
14. Curry strong move to tie the game at 102-102.

• Smith misses, Randolph board #15.
• Balkman to Curry to Balkman, who is fouled.  Hits one of two to make it 103-102.
• Curry rebound off Iverson miss.
• Zach misses a shot, but Curry with the offensive rebound, hits the shot and the foul. 105-102.
• Curry missed the FTA, but Randolph rebound and gets fouled.  He hits one of two.  106-102.
• Defensive three seconds goes aginst the Knicks. 106-103.
• Linas for two.  106-105, 3:06 left.
• Marbury with the driving basket.  108-105.
• Iverson for three. 108-108. (32 points for AI)
  
• Marbury to the basket.. gets fouled. 110-108.  Marbury with 21 points, 9 assists.
• Iverson to Camby... blocked by Curry!
• Randolphy gets fouled.  Hits one of two. 111-108, 2:10  to go.
• Anthony gets fouled and hits both FTA. 111-110.
• Crawford off-balance dumb shot with lots of time left on the shot clock... goes in.  It's 113-110.
• Balkman blocks Anthony.
  
• Randolph draws the double, to Balkman in the paint, to Curry... he hits the shot and gets the foul!  115-110.
• Curry misses the FT, but Randolph again with the offensive rebound on a missed FT.

At the end of the night, the Knicks win 119-112 over the Nuggets.

Final thoughts: Turnovers were bad for the Knicks.  So was the FT shooting (57% is atrocious).  However, they were able to out run and out score the Nuggets, despite going big.  The Knicks only used 7 players (Nate didn't play too well tonight), basically just the starters plus Lee and Balkman.

4 Knicks scored 20 or more points.  The Knicks offense is really diverse, and despite the wishes of Knicks haters, the Randolph-Curry duo is working so far.  Tonight was a big win over a quality team.  Good game for the Knicks.



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