The Sacramento Kings have struggled lately, dropping two-straight and three of their last four. Can they get back on track against the Nuggets?
Well, the early season high of the Sacramento Kings looking like a legit playoff contender has faded a bit, due to injuries more than anything, however. After losing Marvin Bagley III for three weeks already, De’Aaron Fox playing with a bum shoulder and Buddy Hield’s slump, the Sacramento Kings have entered a rough patch.
The worst part, though, is that the Sacramento Kings should be 3-1 in their last four, but have blown two fourth quarter leads against the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trailblazers as they head into a tough next two games against the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.
The Nuggets and Kings have met once this season in Denver, a game that ended with the Sacramento Kings getting blown out, 126-114 in a game that wasn’t as close as the scoreboard would indicate. Still, the Sacramento Kings have kept things close against top-tier teams this season and could get a win against Denver if a few things go their way.
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Keys to Success
First and foremost the Sacramento Kings (specifically the Kings bigs) need to slow down Nikola Jokic. Slowing Jokic, who’s putting together an otherworldly campaign averaging 18 points, 9.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.5 steals on 58.4 percent true shooting, is undoubtedly the biggest key for the Kings to get a win.
Kings fans shouldn’t hold their breath, however. Sacramento has been absolutely inept at guarding the paints and grabbing rebounds, as evidenced by Jusuf Nurkic’s historic game against the Kings on Tuesday night.
Speaking of rebounding, the Sacramento Kings are going to have to win the rebounding battle to have a good chance. So far on the season, the Kings are 27th in league in defensive rebounding percentage, while Denver is number one in offensive rebounding percentage. If the Kings can’t contain Denver on the boards, this game will get ugly quick.
Furthermore, Sacramento will need both Fox and Buddy Hield to be on their game tonight. Hield had himself a solid game on Tuesday, going for 27 points, five rebounds and four assists against the Blazers, but Fox struggled to the tune of 13 points, two rebounds and two assists.
That’s been the theme over the Kings last few games, one of the Kings’ prized guards will go off, while the other fails to get anything going all game—that’s got to change tonight or it’ll be another loss for Sacramento.
Final Thought
A big welcome back to Sacramento for Denver Nuggets Head Coach Mike Malone and Nuggets guard Isaiah Thomas who will both be returning tonight. Malone has piloted to the Nuggets to several solid seasons and has them at the top of the West so far this season since being fired by the Kings in a shocking move in 2014.
Thomas, for his part, won’t be suiting up tonight as he recovers from a hip injury, but he’s returning to the place that drafted him at 60th overall and saw him explode into a legitimate NBA player before he was shipped out in 2014 and later became a star in Boston.
Both moves haven’t paid off for Sacramento, though at least the Kings now have Dave Joerger and De’Aaron Fox at Head Coach and Point Guard, but you can’t help but wonder if the Kings could’ve made the playoffs with a core of Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins and Mike Malone at the helm.
Final Score: Denver Nuggets – 121, Sacramento Kings – 113