Denver Nuggets center) Nikola Jokic (left) and Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (right) battle for the basketball first half action at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Dec 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO–The Sacramento Kings were back in action on Monday night in Sacramento. The Kings last played in New Orleans, where they defeated the Pelicans. On Monday, the Kings welcomed the Denver Nuggets to town.

The Nuggets entered the game 13-10 on the year and right in the middle of the pack in the standings. The Kings entered play on Monday with a 13-13 record and looking to get above .500. The Kings and Nuggets tipped off at 7 PM PST as the Kings fell to the Nuggets 130-129.

In the first quarter, the Kings got off to a rough start. The Nuggets were asserting themselves physically with the Kings early and exploiting bad defensive matchups. With 2:34 left in the quarter, the Kings would be down 32-13 and in desperate need of a spark.

It was one of the toughest quarters of the season for the Kings so far. In the quarter, the Kings only shot 9% from three and 36% overall. The Kings struggled mightily as they were outscored 41-21 in the first.

In the second quarter, the Kings competed hard to get back into the game. However, the defense continued to lack. The Nuggets would score 34 points in the second quarter to continue to put pressure on the Kings.

However, the Kings’ offense exploded for 46 points in the quarter to pull closer heading into halftime. The Kings would trail the Nuggets 75-68 heading into halftime. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings in the first half with 15 points. Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets with 16 first-half points.

In the third quarter, the Kings picked up right where they left off in the first half. The Kings’ shooting was much improved as they scored 35 points in the third. On the other hand, the Nuggets only managed to score 21 points as the shooting dried up for them. After three quarters, the Kings would lead the Nuggets 103-96.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings just couldn’t seal the deal. The Kings battled, but ultimately, they couldn’t make any shots on the final few possessions, and they lost the game 130-129. The Kings were outscored in the fourth quarter 34-26.

The Nuggets were able to hit the big shots they needed down the stretch to erase the Kings’ eight-point lead with roughly 4:00 minutes to play. The Kings’ best performance came from De’Aaron Fox, who finished the game with 29 points.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets in victory with 28 points on the night. It was a disappointing loss for the Kings as they tried to win their fourth game in a row. However, they will have a chance to get back on track on Thursday.

Postgame, Malik Monk talked about how the Kings needed to come with intensity and attention to detail right from the start of the game. Monk said, “That’s a hard question. It’s just on us really, just being locked in from the get-go. Can’t really say what we can do better. We just got to be locked in from the jump ball on those things,” he said. “Like boxing out, getting on the floor for loose balls. Getting rebounds, second-chance points, not fouling and things like that. We just got to be on our toes from the get-go instead of letting them put us on our toes.”

Up Next: The Kings will stay home to take on LeBron James and the LA Lakers at 7 PM on Thursday.