Sacramento Kings Halt Eight-Game Losing Streak with 128-123 Victory over Denver Nuggets
The Sacramento Kings snapped their eight-game losing streak with a 128-123 win against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. Russell Westbrook led the effort by scoring 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, powering the Kings’ late rally.
Dennis Schroder matched Westbrook’s output with 21 points, supporting a Sacramento team that had lost each game of their prior skid by double digits. The Kings trailed by 13 in the third quarter but overturned the deficit to capture the season series against Denver.
Nikola Jokic was unstoppable for the Nuggets with 44 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, along with 13 rebounds and seven assists. Jamal Murray added 23 points, while Cam Johnson contributed 20. However, Denver played without key forward Aaron Gordon due to a right hamstring injury suffered the previous night.
Sacramento’s Keegan Murray returned from offseason thumb surgery to score 19 points in just his second game back. DeMar DeRozan also played a crucial role, posting 17 points and closing the game with a critical three-point play with 12 seconds remaining to seal the win.
The Nuggets fought back late, cutting the lead to three points on a Jokic three-pointer and scoring 15 points in the final minutes. Still, DeRozan’s clutch free throws put the game out of reach for Denver.
This loss marked the second consecutive home defeat for Denver against teams coming off extended losing streaks. Earlier this week, the Chicago Bulls handed the Nuggets their first home loss in five games.
Looking forward, Sacramento will host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. Denver will travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies the same night.
The victory provides a significant momentum boost for the Kings as they attempt to regroup and improve after a challenging start to the season. Denver, meanwhile, will seek to rebound on the road without Aaron Gordon.
Key performances of the game:
- Russell Westbrook: 21 points (15 in fourth quarter)
- Dennis Schroder: 21 points
- Keegan Murray: 19 points
- DeMar DeRozan: 17 points (including game-sealing three-point play)
- Nikola Jokic: 44 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists
- Jamal Murray: 23 points
- Cam Johnson: 20 points
The Kings’ resilience and late-game execution ended one of their toughest streaks, signaling potential growth ahead.
Read more at: www.cbsnews.com
