On a highlight of their season with five straight wins and eight wins in their last nine outings, the Nuggets were entitled to a second straight opposition in Sacramento, after their initial victory on Wednesday.
But without Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon or Bruce Brown, all three left to rest to treat minor sores, despite a mammoth game from Nikola Jokic (40 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Denver had to bow at the end a suspenseful end to the match, on a final throw from Malik Monk (127-126).
However, it was Denver who dominated this game for a long time, starting on the wheel to count up to 18 points ahead, 47-29 for the Nuggets in the 2nd quarter. It must be said that both Jokic (12 points at 4/4 on shots) and Porter Jr. (13 points at 5/5 on shots) were in tune, authors of a more than perfect first quarter!
Propelled by its rear wheel drive, “made in Kentucky”, Fox – Monk, Sacramento will however react. At a 14-4 from the Nuggets, the Kings will respond with an 11-3 at the end of the 3rd quarter to reduce the gap. It was only at the very end of the match that Malik Monk equalized at 122 everywhere under two minutes to play. And it is still him who will make 1 out of 2 throws to give victory, in the snatch, to his team (127-126).
After three defeats in four games in a row at home, the Kings are therefore reassured a little with this success snatched in the last seconds, carried by three performances in their thirties with Domantas Sabonis (31 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists), De ‘ Aaron Fox (31 points, 13 assists) and therefore Malik Monk (33 points) off the bench.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A playoff game. If the first quarter belonged to the Nuggets with the duo Jokic – Porter Jr. who accumulated 25 points at 9/9 on shots, the second was that of the Kings with the duo Fox – Monk who, in turn, made talk powder with 26 points in total, 9/14 on shots. In the same way, the two teams answered blow for blow in the 3rd quarter with a 14-4 of the visitors, followed by an 11-3 of Sacramento.
– The Nuggets need to tighten the screws in defense. Second best attack but only 24th defense, Denver did not reverse the trend last night in Sacramento, to say the least. A good loser, Nikola Jokic quickly recognized that his team had not defended well: “Sacramento played really well, it wasn’t just one guy. We were unable to stop several of them. » A refrain echoed by his coach: “This match was obviously not one of our best in defense”, lamented Mike Malone. “That’s why we lost. We can’t rely solely on our attack against an ambitious young team that just lost to us the day before, that’s not possible! »
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ The Jokic/Sabonis duel. Missing one game with a thumb injury, Domantas Sabonis was back in business to try and limit Nikola Jokic. It didn’t work so well with the reigning double MVP who took his total to 40 points, plus 7 rebounds and 6 assists, but Domantas Sabonis also made him work on the other side of the field with his 31 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. And it was the Joker who smiled yellow at the end of the match, with a first missed on a tear drop and a second at the buzzer at 3-points…
✅ De’Aaron Fox. With 15 assists delivered in the Kings’ last four games, De’Aaron Fox was not doing his job as a leader. Last night, he did regain control over his team’s game with a double-double as the boss with 31 points and 13 assists. Above all, he finished very strong with a last quarter at 15 points at 6/7 on shots!
✅ Malik Monk. With Fox, they make the pair! The other former Kentucky also finished at 30 points or more with 33 units off the bench. He is even a good candidate for the title of best sixth man.
⛔️ Harrison Banres. The Kings’ usual metronome is in bad shape right now. And he still signs a very mediocre performance, just 8 points at 2/8 shooting and the worst +/- of the game, at -13.
THE FOLLOWING
Denver (22-12): reception of the Heat on Friday.
Sacramento (18-15): Jazz Friday reception.
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