Madison Square Garden got the kind of heavyweight game it wanted — and the Knicks got the kind of finish they needed.
Behind a decisive overtime surge, New York (32-18) outlasted Denver (33-18) 134-127 on Feb. 5, 2026, pushing its form line to six straight wins (WWWWW → six) and handing the Nuggets another uneven step in a recent stretch (LLWWL).
How the game swung
This one was a four-quarter tug-of-war that turned into an overtime statement.
Denver set an early tone with a 30-28 first quarter, but New York answered by flipping the second (27-23) to take a two-point halftime lead. The Knicks’ best regulation stretch came out of the break: a 33-29 third quarter that created separation and put the onus on Denver’s execution late.
The Nuggets responded in the fourth, winning it 26-20 to force overtime. But once the game moved to the extra session, New York’s control was clear: the Knicks won OT 26-19, turning a razor-thin margin into a seven-point final.
Overtime belonged to New York
In a game where both teams generated offense through ball movement, overtime became about who could maintain structure and pace under fatigue. New York did. The Knicks produced 26 points in the five-minute extra period — a massive number in any context — and that burst effectively ended it.
Denver’s 19 in OT kept pressure on, but New York consistently answered, never letting the Nuggets’ offense snowball into a decisive run.
Ball movement: both teams, slight edge to Denver
The assist totals underscored how this game stayed fluid and high-scoring deep into the night. Denver finished with 29 assists, New York with 28 — near parity that matched the eye test of two offenses able to create advantages without devolving into pure isolation.
That context makes the overtime split even more telling: with both teams capable of generating quality looks, the Knicks were the side that executed cleaner when possessions tightened and every stop mattered.
What it means going forward
For New York, this was another data point in a growing profile: a team in form, winning close games, and surviving late pressure against an elite opponent. At 32-18 with a six-game winning streak, the Knicks continue to build momentum in the thick of the top-tier race.
For Denver, the loss stings because the comeback was real — winning the fourth to extend the night — but the overtime defense couldn’t hold. At 33-18, the Nuggets remain right there, yet their recent form suggests they’re still searching for consistent closing execution on the road in games that demand it.
Final
Knicks 134, Nuggets 127 (OT)
Denver: 30-23-29-26-19 — 127
New York: 28-27-33-20-26 — 134