The Denver Nuggets opened a three-game road trip with their second win over the Sacramento Kings. Powered by an aggressive start from Nikola Jokić and a big finish from Jamal Murray, the Nuggets pushed their win streak to five games. The win moves them into a tie with San Antonio for second place in the Western Conference.
The final score: 122-108.
Nuggets start hot, Turnovers kill momentum
The Nuggets opened the game on a heater. Denver scored 15 points in the first 4 minutes of game time, and every starter had scored roughly halfway through the first quarter. Jokić was aggressive and efficient early, and his teammates followed suit. They shot 65% from the field in the first, finishing with 33 points. And yet, they trailed after 12 minutes.
Lazy turnovers helped the Kings stick around, who converted on their fast break opportunities. Once the first substitutions occurred, the tables turned. Sacramento closed the quarter on a 9-2 run and carried a 34-33 lead into the second quarter.
Nikola Jokić continues his run of dominance
Jokić powered the Nuggets to a four-point lead at the half with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists on 9-of-10 shooting. He dominated from the paint, catching timely passes in the pocket and going to his deadly floater. When he wasn’t creating his own offense, he was cleaning up messes at the rim. He pulled in three offensive rebounds before halftime. He finished with five.
Jokić continued his dominance in the third, going back and forth with Drew Eubanks in the paint. Eubanks gave the Nuggets trouble on one end of the floor, but Jokić, eventually growing impatient watching his teammates miss jumpers, put his shoulder down and forced his way to the rim. He looked like a mobile redwood tree.
When the dust from his rampage settled, Jokić had logged 35 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in 32:47 on the floor. He shot 16-of-19 from the field.
Murray Flurry to open the fourth
It was a tale of two halves for Denver’s second unit. They got crunched in the first half, but they got another opportunity to put their stamp on the win with crucial minutes to open the fourth quarter. Playing without Jokić, Murray went on a tear. He scored 10 points in under 5 minutes, and the second unit roared to life around him. The Nuggets held a 13-point lead when the starters checked back in, and they sealed the deal.
Murray is the key to that group. When he’s healthy and dialed in, they’re capable not only of surviving without Jokić but also of extending leads. His latest flurry broke at the perfect time for the Nuggets.
