The Knicks played a lot more competitively on Tuesday after their worst loss of the season against the Jazz on Saturday, but it still was not enough against the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets as they dropped their eighth straight game in a 115-108 loss. >> Box score
Things to know about Tuesday's game
1) The Knicks hung with the best in the West for three quarters, leading by two points, but ran out of steam in the fourth -- a recurring theme this season with a young, inexperienced team. Denver opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run run and did not look back from there, outscoring them 33-24 in the final frame.
2) Luke Kornet got the starting nod at center over Enes Kanter for the third straight game and led the team with 19 points, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. Kanter, who recently voiced his frustration of his bench role, made the most of it and finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
3) Rookie Kevin Knox again received the most time on the floor with 39 minutes and finished with 18 points but this time struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 2 of 7 from 3-point range.
4) Emmanuel Mudiay returned to the arena of the team that originally drafted him and fell one assist short of a double-doube, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds. Mudiay committed four turnovers, though, but made up for it with two steals on the defensive end.
5) The Knicks had no answer for Malik Beasley. The Nuggets guard scored 23 points on 8 of 15 shooting in 30 minutes off the bench.
There goes that man 💨 pic.twitter.com/RyWQSMwQMz
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 2, 2019
.@FrankLikina stealin' ➡ @KevKnox finishin' 😤 pic.twitter.com/2RtoHuTvlj
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 2, 2019
.@FrankLikina out here dancin' 🌀 pic.twitter.com/sFjuw0muKN
- NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 2, 2019
What's next: The Knicks continue their road trip and visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.