NEW YORK — The Nuggets are surely looking forward to getting back to Denver, where they accidentally left behind their defense.
Denver allowed 129 points to New York in Sunday’s loss, the third loss in four games on this road trip.
Against Charlotte, Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace went wild on Denver’s “D”; Boston seldom worried in its rout; and Toronto, in a loss, still scored 116 points.
“We’re just giving up too many points,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I don’t care how fast the game is, we can’t give up 120 points.”
The Knicks shot 52.3 percent from the field, while Amar’e Stoudemire was 11-for-15 in the second half. Yes, Denver is without top defender Kenyon Martin (knee). But multiple Nuggets said the biggest problem has been defensive cohesiveness.
“There’s a lot of things that go into defense, but the way we play our defensive schemes is kind of crazy — we’re always switching,” guard Ty Lawson said. “So we have to be more together, talking about what we’re going to do on defense.”
Said Chauncey Billups: “We just have to be more locked-in as a group, everybody included, top to bottom.”
Questionable calls.
Karl was frustrated by a certain call and a certain noncall. Late in the game, Carmelo Anthony had possession and touched Danilo Gallinari, who fell to the ground. Anthony was called for a pivotal offensive foul.
“Flop. . . . You win a game with a flop call,” Karl said. “Gallinari’s good at it. We mentioned it before the game. . . . To get that in the last minute of the game, wow, that’s a little bit scary.”
Earlier in the game, Stoudemire appeared to shove Nene twice. But Stoudemire wasn’t called for a technical foul, which would have been his second and thus an ejection.
“I thought I saw another technical foul,” Karl said. “They said they didn’t see enough to throw him out. They said their angle was bad.”
Contract talks.
Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri has been in talks with Karl and his agent about a contract extension. Karl has publicly said he aspires for three more years.
“We’re talking. Sometimes these things take time,” Ujiri said. “George is the guy we want.”
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
