SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a thrilling matchup, the Denver Nuggets edged out the Sacramento Kings 130-129 on Monday night, thanks to a clutch jumper from Jamal Murray with just 8.6 seconds left on the clock.
Nikola Jokic showcased his superstar talent, recording his 10th triple-double of the season, finishing with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. This victory halted the Kings’ winning streak at three games. Murray pumped in 28 points for the Nuggets, while Russell Westbrook contributed significantly with 18 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Nuggets found themselves down by 10 points with only four minutes remaining in the game, but they staged a fierce comeback, fueled by a 14-3 run. The last 75 seconds were electric, with the lead swapping hands seven times. Murray’s game-winning shot came just moments after DeMar DeRozan put the Kings ahead with a dunk from the baseline. DeRozan had a chance to win it in the final moments but missed his shot, allowing Denver to secure the victory.
Domantas Sabonis was a standout for the Kings, finishing with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. De’Aaron Fox also had a strong outing, contributing 29 points and seven assists, while Malik Monk chipped in 25 points.
In terms of key takeaways, Russell Westbrook has proven to be an invaluable asset for Denver. Despite mostly coming off the bench this season, the nine-time All-Star has stepped up when needed, including on Monday when he started in place of the injured Christian Braun.
The Kings, coached by Mike Brown, appeared sluggish at the beginning but demonstrated resilience by fighting back to take the lead after an unsteady start, where they trailed 41-21 by the end of the first quarter. The Nuggets played a more physical game throughout, though the Kings showed significant improvement in the second half.
One pivotal moment came when Aaron Gordon hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:49 left, narrowing the deficit to just one point. Michael Porter Jr. made a stirring steal shortly after, leading to Jokic converting a basket off an assist from Westbrook, giving Denver a 123-122 lead with 1:15 remaining.
Another important statistic from the game was that Denver scored a remarkable 76 points in the paint, which is 33 points more than what Sacramento had typically allowed this season.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will face the Trail Blazers in Portland on Thursday, while the Kings are set to host the Los Angeles Lakers on the same day.