Nikola Jokic went for just 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, low marks for him as Denver fell short at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

Two years after he won an NBA title, Nikola Jokic views the surging New York Knicks as a “top-five candidate” to end their 52-year championship drought. The Knicks beat Jokic's Denver Nuggets 122-112 on Wednesday for their fifth straight victory.

Jalen Brunson had 30 points and 15 assists, OG Anunoby scored 23 points and the New York Knicks beat the Denver Nuggets 122-112 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points,

SportsLine's model has simulated the Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks matchup 10,000 times and revealed its NBA picks for Wednesday

Coming in as underdogs, the Nuggets are a good bet here, considering they’re No. 7 in overall net rating, whereas the Knicks are No. 5. Denver is an excellent second-half team, showcasing the league’s second-best net rating, 8.8, after halftime, while having a net rating of just -0.6 in the first half.

New York rolls into this East-versus-West war with momentum, having won four straight games. Those winning ways have a lot to do with the play of star guard Jalen Brunson, who takes the spotlight in my Nuggets vs. Knicks predictions.