NEW YORK — Emmanuel Mudiay’s first game at Madison Square Garden was going so poorly that he apologized to his coach at halftime.

The rookie had nothing to be sorry about by the end.

Mudiay scored nine of his 15 points during a decisive fourth-quarter run, and the Denver Nuggets beat the fading New York Knicks 101-96 on Sunday.

“It was a big fourth quarter for me. I think probably top-three fourth quarter,” said Mudiay, who had nine assists. “As long as we get the win, that’s the main thing. Even if I was passing the whole time, I’m making plays. But I was taking what the defense gave me and that’s what happened tonight.”

Former Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari and Will Barton had 19 points each to lead the Nuggets, who won for the third time in four games.

But it was Mudiay, who was just 2 for 12 through three quarters, who delivered nearly all the points during an 11-2 spurt that put the Nuggets in control.

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MAGIC 96, HAWKS 94: Nik Vucevic hit an 18-footer at the buzzer as Orlando won at home.

Elfrid Payton, who set up Vucevic’s winning shot with an inbounds pass, scored or assisted the Magic’s final six baskets as they won for only the third time in 18 games.

Vucevic led Orlando with 22 points and nine rebounds and Evan Fournier, starting in place of the injured Tobias Harris, added 21 points.

CLIPPERS 100, HEAT 93: Chris Paul had a game-high 22 points and Jamal Crawford added 20 off the bench as Los Angeles won at Miami.

J.J. Redick scored 14 points and Wesley Johnson had 10 for the Clippers, who won despite missing 14 straight shots in the first quarter.

NOTES

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THE NBA is reviewing whether the act of jumping on a player’s back to intentionally foul him should be interpreted as a flagrant foul.

Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens told reporters Sunday that a memo from the NBA said that act would now be ruled as a flagrant 1 foul. But a league spokesman says there has been no rule change, only that league officials are discussing how the play should be interpreted.

If it became a flagrant 1, the team that was fouled would keep possession after the two free throws.

“Telling a guy he can’t jump on someone’s back is not that big of a rule change,” Los Angeles Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.

Houston’s Dwight Howard and Detroit’s Andre Drummond have both been subjected to the act, with players jumping on the backs of the notoriously bad free throw shooters.

CLIPPERS: Guard Austin Rivers is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken left hand.

Rivers was hurt during the Clippers’ game at Minnesota on Wednesday, and the injury was originally diagnosed as a bruise. But when the pain persisted further exams found the break.

Rivers has averaged 8.1 points in about 22 minutes per game this season.


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