OG Anunoby scores career-high 40 as Knicks rout Nuggets for most impressive win of season

DENVER — After Michael Malone described the Knicks as one of the “elite” offensive teams in the NBA, they showed the championship-winning NBA coach why in an explosive display Monday night at Ball Arena.The Knicks put both facets of their game together — and shared the ball to tie a franchise record with 45 assists — in easily their most impressive win of the season, 145-118, over Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.OG Anunoby, who was signed to the richest contract in team history over the summer ($212.5 million), continued his November scoring binge with a career-high 40 points on a scorching 16-for-23 from the floor, including five of seven from 3-point range.“Just getting better each and every game.I’m sure it’s going to keep getting better,” said Anunoby, who netted a previous season-high 27 with seven made 3-pointers one game earlier in Saturday’s loss to the Jazz.

“[I am] just comfortable.… Just be ready to shoot and not turn down shots.

And [I’m] hunting more.”Thibodeau’s team also bounced back from a poor defensive effort in Utah, but it was the Knicks’ high-octane offense that stood out again.They matched their most points scored in one half this season with 76 through the first two quarters, and their 45 assists matched the franchise mark set in 1979.Jalen Brunson notched 23 points with a career-high 17 assists for the Knicks, who will continue their five-game road trip Wednesday night in Dallas.He became the first Knick since Nate Robinson in 2008-09 to reach at least 20 and 15 in those categories in the same game.Karl-Anthony Towns remained in the lineup after being listed as questionable following a minus-34 showing in Utah, and he finished with 30 points with 15 rebounds for the Knicks (10-7).Jokic, the three-time MVP who is averaging a triple-double for the season, was largely guarded by Towns and was held to 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 32 minutes for the Nuggets (9-7).“He’s an incredible player, obv...