Photo credit: @ESPN1320

By Ana Kieu

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings returned to the hardwood for a game against the Denver Nuggets at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday evening.

The Kings stormed back in the fourth quarter to beat the Nuggets 125-115 on Tuesday. De’Aaron Fox led all scorers with 24 points, 10 assists, and 3 rebounds. Richaun Holmes added 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Sacramento improved to 3-1, while Denver fell to 1-3.

The Kings starting lineup featured De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III, and Richaun Holmes. Like Denver, Sacramento contributed to multiple ties and lead changes throughout the game.

Michael Porter Jr. got on the board with a 2-point shot 28 seconds into the first quarter. The Nuggets went on a 12-5 run, but the Kings began to play great defense. Buddy Hield hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 16 with 7:02 left in the first.

The Nuggets got ahead of the Kings by 2 points late in the first. Facundo Campazzo set up Isaiah Hartenstein for a layup with 12.1 seconds left in the first. The Kings trailed 34-32 at the end of the first.

Buddy Hield entered the game for De’Aaron Fox to start the second quarter. Hield was unapologetically himself. He hit a 3-pointer to give the Kings a 41-38 lead with 9:58 left in the second. But he Kings’ lead turned out to be short-lived as PJ Dozier responded with a 3-pointer of his own 15 seconds later.

In spite of all the adversity, Sacramento began to pick up speed late in the second. Marvin Bagley III hit a 3-pointer, Tyrese Haliburton added a finger roll layup, and Richaun Holmes had an alley-oop dunk on a pass from De’Aaron Fox, just to name a few.

The Kings maintained their composure and executed two standout plays in the first half. Richaun Holmes helped the Kings to a 10-point lead, 64-54, with 2:17 left in the second. Harrison Barnes hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and gave the Kings a 12-point halftime lead, 74-62.

Richaun Holmes made a jumper on a pass from Harrison Barnes to make it 76-64 Kings at 10:33 of the third quarter. Holmes followed up with another jumper to extend the Kings’ lead to 78-64 with 9:57 left in the third.

The Nuggets hustled up the court, tied the game at 81, and took an 82-81 lead with 6:05 left in the third. Nikola Jokic hit a game-tying 2-point shot and made a go-ahead free throw. Jokic’s scoring clinic caused the Kings to trail 100-96 after three quarters of play.

The Kings bounced back in the fourth quarter. The Kings’ bench outscored Denver 35-19 late in the fourth. De’Aaron Fox got an 8-foot bank shot to put the Kings up 122-113 with 51 seconds left in the fourth. Buddy Hield sealed the win with a 3-pointer with 32.1 seconds remaining.

The Kings ring in the New Year with a game against the Houston Rockets on New Year’s Eve at 4 pm PT.