Preview: Denver Nuggets take on the New York Knicks

The Denver Nuggets (9-4) find themselves near the top of the Western Conference standings just 0.5 games back of the first-place Portland Trail Blazers. Following a four-game road trip that saw them go 3-1, they’re back at home for a matchup with the New York Knicks (7-7) who have been inconsistent to start the year, but they’re right in the thick of the Eastern Conference and knocked off the Utah Jazz on the road just last night.

I’ve somewhat buried the lead here, as the Nuggets are not going to be the team we’ve seen for the past several years tonight after two-time MVP Nikola Jokic was placed in the league’s health and safety protocols around 5:30 last night. He joins Bones Hyland on…