By Morris Phillips

SACRAMENTO–A big second half propelled the short-handed Nuggets past the Kings at Golden 1 Center on Monday night, 114-98.  Will Barton and Gary Harris combined for 45 points as Denver’s offense hummed after the game was tied at the half.

Nine of Denver’s 15 made threes but only two of their 13 turnovers came after the break as the Nuggets led by double digits throughout the fourth quarter despite being without suspended coach Mike Malone and starters Paul Millsap and Wilson Chandler.

“The first half, we were sloppy with the ball at times and we allowed them to kind of stick around,” interim coach Wes Unseld Jr. said of the Nuggets. “We took care of it, continued to share the ball and we got great looks down the stretch.”

The Kings were led by George Hill and Kousta Koufos with 16 points apiece, and Zach Randolph and De’Aaron Fox with 12 each. The Kings allowed a huge disparity on the glass (49-34) and made just eight free throws, highlighting the two most glaring differences statistically.

“We’ve got to be more physical,” Coach Dave Joerger said of his Kings. “We were a step slow in the second half.”

The Kings had won three straight at home, but fell to a Nuggets team that was embarassed by the Lakers the previous night in Los Angeles. Overall, the Kings have lost five of six. Denver has won five of seven, and seven of 10.

Malone, the former Kings coach, was ejected on Sunday arguing a non-foul call in the loss to the Lakers. The Nuggets went on to lose 127-108. Millsap sprained his wrist in the loss, and Chandler was scratched due to lower back pain.