Mile High Sports

Jokic and Murray go to work in impressive win vs Sacramento Kings

Ryan Blackburn

Nov 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives to the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Nikola Jokic has been on another level for the last five games.

In a back-and-forth affair vs the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets ultimately earned a 122-108 victory with a strong close by the bench unit and some nail-in-the-coffin threes by the closing group. The Nuggets’ defense found its stride throughout the game, giving Denver’s offense breathing room to make the right plays in the right moments.

But it was Jokic who helped Denver get off the ground. The Serbian center had a dominant showing with 35 points on 16-of-19 from the field. He missed just three shots the entire night (and a heave that counted against the team) and was absolutely spectacular in so many ways. The shooting touch was on full display, getting to his floater, turning around with hook shots, and even hitting one of those aforementioned threes late in the game to close the door on the Kings.

Murray finished the game with 23 points, eight assists, and three rebounds, shooting 7-of-15 from the field, 4-of-9 from three, and 5-of-5 from the line. Performances like this one have become the new baseline for Murray, who’s playing well in both minutes with the starters and second unit.

Denver didn’t need much more with their top three players combining for 71 points as efficiently as they did. Still, they got double-digit performances from Bruce Brown and Jonas Valanciunas off the bench.

Brown was great throughout, maintaining pressure on the rim offensively with drives, cuts, and offensive rebounds. He had a pick-six steal that led to a Kings timeout midway through the fourth quarter. That earned him the close, and he drained the aforementioned late three off the Jokic dime to get to 14 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and two steals on the night.

Valanciunas started the game slow and was 1-of-6 in the first half after missing some tough turnarounds and putbacks under pressure by the Kings. He calmed down in the second half though getting a couple baskets and free throws, attacking the offensive glass, and still somehow getting to 10 points and seven rebounds on the night. He’s been insanely productive, as I’ve discussed before.

Overall, this was a strong win for the Nuggets. The Kings are 3-8, but they were at home and have aspirations of playoff basketball. The pressure was on to get a win, and the Nuggets dispelled any notions of that in the fourth quarter.

Speaking of aspirations, the Nuggets play the Los Angeles Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back tonight. Denver will probably rest a starter or two after winning their fifth game in a row. They’ve earned the right to be conservative with their minutes so early in the season.

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