SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With out two of their greatest 3-point shooters, the Nuggets had been naturally going to have hassle maintaining with the Kings in the event that they didn’t defend the perimeter nicely Friday night time.
Sacramento made 17 of 34 pictures past the arc, and the Nuggets misplaced a 135-106 laugher to the Kings at Golden 1 Middle, lacking a chance to take sole possession of first place within the Western Convention.
Six Kings scored a minimum of a dozen factors, whereas Denver (36-17) turned it over 20 occasions with simply 26 assists.
Michael Porter Jr. (proper knee tendinopathy) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (proper hamstring tightness) had been each dominated out within the final 90 minutes earlier than opening tip because the Nuggets warmed up for his or her first back-to-back in additional than a month and tenth this season. This was the primary sport Porter has missed in 2023-24, ending a streak of 72 consecutive video games performed courting again to final season. He scored 27 factors Thursday in certainly one of his greatest two-way outings of the season.
Porter and Caldwell-Pope are a mixed 39% on a couple of third of the crew’s 3-point makes an attempt. On prime of that, Caldwell-Pope is arguably Denver’s greatest perimeter defender. With out him, the Nuggets wanted burgeoning standout wing Peyton Watson to step up. It wasn’t Watson’s night time. He dedicated all three of Denver’s first-quarter turnovers, together with a disastrous inbound go on to Malik Monk with two seconds remaining after a Sacramento made three. Monk turned the interception into one other 3-pointer on the buzzer, reducing Denver’s result in 35-32 and squashing a formidable quarter.
Watson then obtained trapped in foul jail, selecting up his third earlier than he had performed 12 minutes. The Nuggets had been compelled to fend with out one other wing asset, they usually weren’t as much as the problem defensively. They trailed by 10 at halftime and by as many as 32 within the fourth quarter.
Nikola Jokic went for 23 factors on 17 pictures. He had three steals and simply certainly one of Denver’s turnovers. However Sacramento heart Domantas Sabonis beat him to a triple-double, amassing 17 factors, 17 rebounds and 10 assists.
Jokic landed arduous within the final minute of the primary quarter after finishing a quick break with Julian Strawther, who was again from his personal damage. The 2-time MVP briefly disappeared from the bench and down the locker room tunnel, however he checked again into the sport at his often scheduled time within the second.
Rotations obtained uncommon as a result of absent starters and subsequent disappointing efficiency. Watson and Justin Vacation began. Zeke Nnaji checked in because the 4 alongside Jokic through the third quarter after not taking part in in any respect within the first half.
Sacramento’s bench outscored Denver’s, 65-43. Monk, the most effective sixth males within the NBA, contributed 23 of these factors on 9-of-13 capturing. He was a 26-point standout final time the Nuggets visited. Each matchups this season have come on the second day of a highway back-to-back for Denver, whereas the hosts have had further relaxation each occasions. The scheduling gods will return the favor subsequent week, although: The Kings should play Wednesday at Ball Enviornment on 24 hours’ relaxation whereas the Nuggets could have had Tuesday off.
