Denver Nuggets Briefs: Nikola Jokic, Kristaps Porzingis “future Of NBA”

The Nuggets' game at the New York Knicks doubled as the latest matchup between Nikola Jokic and Kristaps Porzingis, two of the NBA's best young big men. This round went to Porzingis, who dropped 38 points and seven rebounds to reach 30 points in five of the Knicks' six games this season. Jokic scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his return to Madison Square Garden, where he scored 40 points in a breakout effort last season.

"(They are) the future of the NBA," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

Malone got an even closer look at Porzingis while coaching at the NBA Africa game over the summer. Malone marveled at Porzingis' 7-foot-3 frame and long arms, which help make him a shot-blocking threat and an inside-outside scorer. "I mean, OK, Jokic is a big guy," Malone said. "But Porzingis? He's huge."

Jokic, though, is a dynamic facilitator, with the Nuggets running much of their offense through their center.

Arthur makes debut. Denver's first back-to-back games of the season impacted the Nuggets' regular rotation. The biggest tweak was veteran forward Darrell Arthur making his season debut, entering at the end of the first quarter alongside second-year guard Malik Beasley. Arthur did not score, missing both of his 3-point attempts, but contributed one rebound and one steal in 12 minutes.

Guards Emmanuel Mudiay (15 points, one assist, two steals) and Will Barton (13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals) and center/forward Mason Plumlee (two points, three rebounds, two assists) were the primary contributors off the bench, as usual. Forward Kenneth Faried, who did not play Sunday at Brooklyn, played just three minutes and did not score. Trey Lyles and Richard Jefferson did not play.