Sacramento Kings at Denver Nuggets
· National Basketball AssociationKings overcome Jokic's 44 points, beat Nuggets 128-123 to end 8-game slide
Dennis Schroder also had 21 points for Sacramento, which lost every game during the streak by double digits — the last by 41 points at Memphis on Thursday night.
The Kings appeared on their way to a ninth straight defeat after falling behind by 13 in the third quarter, but they rallied to take the last of three games against Denver this season.
Keegan Murray had 19 points in his second game back from offseason surgery on his left thumb. DeMar DeRozan added 17, including a three-point play with 12 seconds left that sealed it.
It was the second consecutive home game in which the Nuggets fell to a team on an extended losing streak. Chicago handed them their first home loss Monday night to stop a five-game skid.
Jokic had 19 points in the fourth quarter. He finished with 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Jamal Murray scored 23 points and Cam Johnson had 20 for the Nuggets, who were without Aaron Gordon. The forward injured his right hamstring early in Friday night's win at Houston.
Spencer Jones made his first career start in place of Gordon.
Murray’s free throw midway through the third gave Denver a 79-66 lead, but the Kings rallied to take a lead late in the period, then scored 10 straight points early in the fourth to go up 104-98.
They extended it to 114-105 on Westbrook’s layup before Denver rallied to get within 123-120 on Jokic's 3-pointer. DeRozan iced it with a three-point play and hit two more free throws in the final seconds.
Nuggets: At the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
Regular Season Series
DEN leads series 2-1
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of Game | 128 - 123 |
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of the 4th Quarter | 128 - 123 |
| 4th 0.1 | ![]() |
Nuggets offensive team rebound | 128 - 123 |
| 4th 1.5 | ![]() |
Nikola Jokic misses 24-foot three point jumper | 128 - 123 |
| 4th 6.3 | ![]() |
DeMar DeRozan makes free throw 2 of 2 | 128 - 123 |
Statistics
SAC |
DEN |
|
|---|---|---|
| 48-91 | FG | 45-92 |
| 53 | Field Goal % | 49 |
| 10-30 | 3PT | 14-37 |
| 33 | Three Point % | 38 |
| 22-23 | FT | 19-23 |
| 96 | Free Throw % | 83 |
| 37 | Rebounds | 38 |
| 9 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 28 | Defensive Rebounds | 27 |
| 32 | Assists | 28 |
| 8 | Steals | 1 |
| 3 | Blocks | 3 |
| 6 | Turnovers | 13 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 7 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 10 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 20 |
| 23 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
| 62 | Points in Paint | 54 |
| 20 | Fouls | 21 |
| 9 | Largest Lead | 13 |
Denver Nuggets Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Jonas Valanciunas, C | Day-To-Day | Dec 25 |
| Cameron Johnson, F | Out | Dec 25 |
| Tamar Bates, G | Out | Dec 22 |
| Christian Braun, G | Out | Dec 13 |
| Aaron Gordon, F | Out | Dec 9 |
Sacramento Kings Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Devin Carter, G | Day-To-Day | Dec 23 |
| Keegan Murray, F | Day-To-Day | Dec 23 |
| Zach LaVine, G | Out | Dec 23 |
| Domantas Sabonis, F | Out | Dec 19 |
| Drew Eubanks, F | Out | Dec 13 |
Game Information
Location: Denver, CO
Attendance: 19,893 · Capacity:
2025-26 Pacific Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LA Lakers |
19 | 9 | .679 | - | L2 |
Phoenix |
16 | 13 | .552 | 3.5 | W1 |
Golden State |
15 | 15 | .500 | 5 | W2 |
LA Clippers |
8 | 21 | .276 | 11.5 | W2 |
Sacramento |
7 | 23 | .233 | 13 | L1 |
2025-26 Northwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City |
26 | 5 | .839 | - | L2 |
Denver |
21 | 8 | .724 | 4 | L1 |
Minnesota |
20 | 10 | .667 | 5.5 | W3 |
Portland |
12 | 18 | .400 | 13.5 | L2 |
Utah |
10 | 19 | .345 | 15 | L4 |
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SAC
DEN
LA Lakers
Phoenix
Golden State
LA Clippers
Oklahoma City
Minnesota
Portland
Utah