DENVER — Nikola Jokic achieved his fifth consecutive triple-double before the fourth quarter concluded, tallying an impressive 35 points, 22 rebounds, and a season-high 17 assists, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 132-123 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday evening.
This season, Jokic has dominated the triple-double leaderboard in the NBA with 20, 14 of which occurred prior to the fourth quarter. Notably, he reached 20 points and 20 rebounds before the third quarter ended.
The Nuggets entered halftime with a substantial 22-point advantage and extended it with a 14-5 run to finish the third quarter, highlighted by Jokic’s remarkable 66-foot shot that settled at the buzzer, pushing their lead to 25 points.
For Sacramento, Domantas Sabonis contributed significantly with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Coming off a win against the Golden State Warriors the night before, the Kings experienced their third defeat in 13 games since Doug Christie stepped in as interim coach.
The Kings began the fourth quarter with a strong push, scoring the first 14 points and narrowing the gap to 126-121 at one stage.
Takeaways from the game reveal that the Kings faced a demanding challenge after their recent victory, managing a spirited comeback but ultimately unable to overcome the large deficit.
On the other hand, Jokic, recognized as an All-Star starter, scored 12 points during the fourth quarter. Christian Braun added 21 points, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 20 points as Denver extended their winning streak to four games.
A pivotal moment during the game came when the Kings exhibited resiliency despite Jokic’s astonishing three-quarter court basket. This spurred them to intensify their efforts at the beginning of the fourth, prompting the return of Jokic to the court.
In terms of standout statistics, Doug McDermott, who the Nuggets selected in the 2014 draft before being traded to Chicago, impressed by shooting 5 of 7 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter, bringing the Kings back within striking distance.
Looking ahead, the Kings will continue their challenging six-game road series with a matchup against the New York Knicks on Saturday night, while the Nuggets will commence their five-game road trip starting at Minnesota on the same day.
