The Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks for someone to pass to against the Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) in the first half at Ball Arena in Denver on Wed Feb 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (33-25) came out on fire as they took on the defending champion Denver Nuggets (40-19). After the first quarter they led 35-28. They took a fifteen point lead in the second quarter and then it all fell apart. The Nuggets blew them out of the arena winning 117-96.

The opening quarter was a perfect first 12 minutes of play for the Kings. They had seven triples in the opening quarter and were doing a great job on the offensive glass. The Kings were faced with a huge loss, having to play without De’Aaron Fox missing the game with a left knee contusion.

Domantas Sabonis had the unenviable task of containing Nikola Jokic and was doing a solid job. The Kings led 35-28 after one quarter.

The Kings took as much as a 15 point lead in the second quarter but the Nuggets went on a 12-0 run to pull to within three points 49-46 with 4:57 left in the half. The team was playing against all odds battling Denver without Fox as well as playing on the road.

They needed to go on a run before the half. With 3:15 left in the half, the Nuggets took a four point lead 55-51 and Denver had a real reversal of fortune. Momentum had shifted in this game and the Kings would have to fight to get it back.

After the great start, the Kings began to miss a lot of shots from downtown and the Nuggets led 65-55 at halftime. Denver won the second quarter in a huge turnaround 37-20.

The slow start that Denver had had accelerated in the second quarter as momentum shifted in their favor. Jokic was eyeing another triple double. In the first half he had 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 10 points.

Jamal Murray had 18 points the high for the half and Aaron Gordon had 13. Keegan Murray had 15 points for Sacramento and Malik Monk had 11 points off the bench. After hitting seven triples in the first quarter, the Kings came up empty in the second quarter. They had a lot of work to do in the second half.

Eight minutes into the third quarter the Nuggets took their largest lead of the game 75-57. The Nuggets were on a 43-10 run since 8:08 in the second quarter as the Kings went ice cold.

The ugliness continued as the Kings fell further and further behind trailing 85-62 with 4:50 left in the quarter. Sacramento couldn’t buy a bucket looking at a 72-100 deficit after three quarters. Keegan Murray did not score at all in the third quarter.

The Kings put out a nice effort in the fourth quarter despite being faced with the certainty of a loss. Sacramento wanted to finish this game on a bit of a strong note. Denver’s Jokic did achieve another triple double, his fourth straight, in the quarter.

The Kings did cut into the Nuggets lead but it was close to a done deal going into the final quarter. Chris Duarte had a great effort off the bench with 16 points. Sabonis had his 41st consecutive double double.

The high for the Kings was Murray with 21 points and off the bench Duarte finished with 18. Sacramento did cut the 31 point Nugget lead to 21 points in the losing effort.

Game notes: The Kings came into the second leg of this season with a nice win over the Los Angeles Clippers 123-107 on Sunday and the Spurs 127-122 on Thursday but it has cooled since then. They lost on Monday to the Miami Heat 121-110 on Monday after erasing a 19 point deficit in the fourth quarter.

They needed this win because their schedule gets even tougher this week after defeating the Nuggets in their previous to meetings. They faced a daunting task Wednesday night taking on the defending champion Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver. They have played well on the road and they went all out against the Nuggets. It doesn’t get any easier for Sacramento playing the Minnesota Timberwolves this Friday in Minnesota. The Kings will be heavily tested this week.

After this blow-out the Kings are faced with another giant in the Minnesota Timberwolves this Friday night in another road game at Target Center. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00 PM. as the Kings try to bounce back from this loss.