Eventually, it had to end. Jalen Brunson had enough. 

He had already seen the Knicks throw away chances to put the game away at the end of regulation and then the first overtime. So he decided to take over. 

Brunson scored the Knicks’ first six points of double overtime, then made a pinpoint pass to assist a Landry Shamet layup.

When their lead was cut to three points, he hit a floater to put the Knicks up five and pretty much ice it. 

Jalen Brunson, who scored a game-high 42 points, makes a pass between two Denver defenders during the Knicks’ 134-127 double-overtime win over the Nuggets on Feb. 4, 2026 at the Garden. Jason Szenes / New York Post

Like Batman, Brunson beat Joker in Gotham as the Knicks toppled the Nuggets 134-127 in double overtime Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, extending their win streak to a season-high eight games in what is a candidate for Game of the Year. 

“On a big stage, he showed why, again, he should be mentioned as one of the first guys, if anybody is talking about an MVP candidate, he should be one of the first ones mentioned,” coach Mike Brown said. “Big, big game by him.” 

Really, it was Jamal Murray, not the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who was the villain. Just named an All-Star for the first time in his career, he certainly played like one. He finished with 39 points and repeatedly threatened to end the Knicks win streak. 

Murray, though, missed his best chance to do it at the end of the first overtime. 

With the Nuggets down two, he got as open a look as he could ask for, a chance for a game-winner. But his 3-pointer barely grazed the rim. 

A longer rebound, and the Knicks would have won right there and then. But Mikal Bridges was called for a questionable loose-ball foul on Christian Braun, who was going for the rebound, with 0.3 seconds left. Braun made both free throws to send the game to double overtime. 

OG Anunoby, who scored 20 points, slams home a dunk during the Knicks’ double overtime win over the Nuggets. Jason Szenes / New York Post

“Just trying to box out,” Bridges said of the play. “Just leaving it to the officials to make the call. Not trying to give up a rebound.” 

Bridges didn’t score his first points until 9:57 left in the game, struggling through a nightmarish performance.

But he came through in double overtime, drilling a corner 3 to give the Knicks a seven-point lead and provide some breathing room. 

“I’m out there, felt like it wasn’t going my way on both ends,” Bridges said. “Got teammates just encouraging me to just try to stay with it and do whatever it takes to win.” 

Brunson finished with 42 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Jokic had a triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, but notably went 1-for-13 from 3-point range.

Late in the game, he began settling for 3s, missing all four he took in overtime and double overtime. He hit just one field goal in the two overtimes. 

Karl-Anthony Towns, who suffered a cut to his right eye, reacts after scoring a bucket during the Knicks’ win over the Nuggets. Jason Szenes / New York Post

Mitchell Robinson had some success early guarding Jokic, but got into foul trouble — he picked up his third foul with 6:51 left in the second quarter. Brown later went offense-defense with Robinson and Towns until Towns fouled out at the end of the first overtime.

And Robinson helped stifle Jokic late, while also stopping Murray a few times when switched onto him. 

“Mitchell Robinson is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA,” Towns said. “We’re lucky we got him on our side.” 

Murray, who tied the game near the end of regulation to send it to overtime, scored 18 straight Nuggets points in the first quarter. In fact, it wasn’t until 42.6 seconds left in the first quarter when any Nuggets player other than Murray or Jokic scored. 

Jamal Murray, who scored 39 points, drives on Mikal Bridges during the Knicks’ win over the Nuggets. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Towns’ right eye was bloodied after being fouled by Spencer Jones at the end of the first quarter — their heads collided as Towns drove to the rim. He returned in the second quarter with a few stitches and a bandage. 

The Knicks, playing without Josh Hart and on the second leg of a back-to-back, might have had to work a bit harder than any of their previous seven games in this streak. 

But, after a few delays, their train remains full steam ahead. 

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“What a ballgame,” Brown said. “Our team just showed a lot of grit, a lot of fight in this win. Just a resilient win by our guys. … Our guys just found a way.”