For the Denver Nuggets, their matchup with the Sacramento Kings meant a lot more than just the fourth game of the season. After back-to-back years plagued by inconsistency, Denver needed to prove that they can take every game seriously and that plight began on October 23rd against the Kings. Beating teams that the Nuggets are better than is a goal of theirs and they took their first step on Tuesday night by beating the Kings 126-112.
The first quarter was the Gary Harris showcase for the Nuggets. He was hitting threes from the parking lot, grabbing rebounds, hitting mid-range jumpers off the dribble, and taking guys straight to the rim and finishing through contact. He could not be stopped in any capacity. Nikola Jokic also put himself on triple-double watch in the first quarter with seven points, eight rebounds, and four assists in the first frame.
Unfortunately, the Denver defense was not dominant as they had been for the first three games of the season. The intensity and tenacity that defined the Nuggets defense disappeared. Denver still played with effort, but not the same kind of determination. They still managed to come out of the first quarter with a seven point lead by a score of 33-26.
Then, to start the second quarter, the Nuggets’ bench unit came in and demolished all in their path. They pushed the lead to 15 points and scored a total of 21 points on 10-20 shooting in their first stint. Once most of Denver’s starting unit returned, the defense began to falter once again and the Nuggets let the Kings to close with seven points.
Jokic continued to feast in the post and was a relentless rebounder for the rest of the second quarter and it paid dividends. Jokic secured double-double in the first half and also led Denver to a 68-55 lead at halftime.
Jokic began the third quarter with a three-pointer as Denver began searching for an opportunity for a knockout punch. That is when Jamal Murray came alive. He had 11 points in the first 2:19 of the third quarter and helped push Denver’s lead up to 25 points.
By the end of the third quarter, Denver led by 24 points by a score of 105-81 as the bench unit poured in 32 points and the starters continued to annihilate every lineup that stood in their way.
The fourth quarter was much more of a formality than a competitive battle between two high-powered offenses. Denver sucked the soul out of the Kings with an endless onslaught of aggression and talent. The Nuggets had eight players with nine-or-more points and they ratcheted up their defense in the second half. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Nuggets and a 14-point lead by a score of 126-112.
Jokic flirted with a triple-double as he accumulated 14 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists without playing in the fourth quarter. Harris cooled off in the second half, but still finished with 18 points on 12 shots to go with five assists against just one turnover. Murray came to life in the third quarter and finished with 19 points including three big-time three-pointers in addition to his four assists. Even Paul Millsap, who had struggled mightily on offense all year, turned in his best performance of the young 2018-19 season with 15 points and five rebounds while shooting 6-10 from the field. As a cherry on top, the Nuggets bench unit all racked up 51 total points.
Next, the Nuggets head to Los Angeles to take on the winless LeBron-led Lakers. Los Angeles is going to be hungry for a win after a frustrating start to the 2018-19 season. That game tips off at 8:30pm MST on Thursday, October 25th.
