The Denver Nuggets will look to keep their grip on the top spot in the West when they travel to Sacramento to face the Kings on Thursday.
The Denver Nuggets were always supposed to be a good team this season, but they have translated their new-found confidence into an unbeatable brand of basketball.
The West-leading Nuggets will look to keep their firm grip on that title when they travel to Northern California to face the Sacramento Kings.
The Nuggets (24-11) are at this point thanks to an offense that is supremely efficient. Led by the trio of Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, and Paul Millsap, plus fantastic play from the supporting cast, Denver has brought in to head coach Mike Malone’s system and is lighting up NBA scoreboards like a virtual pinball machine.
The latest victim of this fast-paced, exciting offense was the lowly New York Knicks, who played vaunted but ultimately fell 115-108. In Denver’s “team first” offense, Malik Beasley came off the bench and hurt the Knicks, leading Denver with 23 points, and Jokic going for a monster triple-double of 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 15 assists.
The Nuggets have a roster full of skill players that can hurt teams on any given night, which is a trait the Kings share as well.
Sacramento (19-18) is also a high-scoring team and has become very efficient in Year 2 of the David Joerger era. The Kings are also similar to Denver in that their leaders are also young, with De’Aaron Fox making a major leap, and Buddy Hield easily the front-runner for Most Improved Player.
Nuggets at Kings live stream details
When: Thursday, Jan. 3
Time: 10 pm EST/8 pm MST/7 pm PST
Where: Sacramento, CA
Venue: Golden 1 Center
TV Info: Altitude Sports (Nuggets), NBC Sports California (Kings)
Live Stream: FuboTV (free seven-day trial), NBA League Pass
For the first time in nearly a decade, Sacramento enters the new year with a winning record, but drop[ed their first game of the New Year to the Portland Trail Blazers 113-108. This is the second game of a four-game homestand for the Kings, who will also entertain Golden State and Orlando before heading back on the road.
The Nuggets took the first matchup with Sacramento in Denver on Oct. 23.