DENVER — Jalen Brunson has played 440 NBA games, 162 of them for the Knicks, but this was the best night of his career.

The All-Star point guard recorded a career-high 17 assists and helped the Knicks tie a franchise record with 45 in Monday’s 145-118 win over the Nuggets.

“For me, it’s great to have that career high, but it’s an honor for (my teammates),” said Brunson, who also scored 23 points. “Everyone in this locker room works very hard. They put a lot into their game. I mean, literally, without them that wouldn’t be possible.”

When informed that former Villanova teammate and podcast co-host Josh Hart said the 17-assist night was “probably (something) you’ll never see again,” Brunson responded, “Yeah, Josh is funny. I I would have had more if I hadn’t passed him the ball.”

Brunson became the first Knick since Nate Robinson in 2008-09 to score at least 20 points and 15 assists in the same game.

“I thought Jalen had an incredible floor game,” Tom Thibodeau said.

Precious Achiuwa and Mitchell Robinson joined the Knicks on the five-game road trip, and the first of those two injured big men appears to be closing in on a return to the lineup.

Achiuwa, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury late in the preseason, has been cleared for contact and could make his season debut soon, though it’s still unlikely he’ll be on the trip that ends with stops in Dallas ( Wednesday) and Charlotte (Friday).

“Precious pretty much does everything now,” Thibodeau said before the game. “He’s gotten some contact. He’s at the next step. He’s getting close.

“And Mitch, just having him around, obviously hasn’t been allowed to do anything other than the rehab part of it. But it is also good to see that he is making good progress. He’s not as close as Precious, but we’re very encouraged by both boys.”

Robinson is expected to be out until at least December or January after undergoing surgery on his left ankle in May.

When asked if he believes Achiuwa will play on the road trip, Thibodeau added: “No. He’s not quite there yet. We just want to be patient. We don’t want this to happen again. Let him get through it and when he’s ready, he’s ready.

Miles McBride returned to the lineup after missing five games due to a knee problem and scored 13 points in 27 minutes.