The match got off to a bad start even before it began for the Kings deprived at the last minute of De'Aaron Fox, injured in the knee despite having participated in the warm-up. Sacramento, however, got the best start thanks to a bleeding Keegan Murray in the first quarter (11 points). It's even a distant duel between the two Murrays, since Jamal enters the dance for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokic, for his part, is quite discreet offensively with a first basket after eleven minutes of play. The Kings are not as timid with a 7/10 from afar in the first act, Murray's buzzer beater as a bonus.
The Nuggets do not make enough effort on defensive rotations and are punished for a full quarter of an hour, with 15 points behind (32-47). The return of Mike Malone's starters changes the situation. Much more aggressive, the locals took advantage of the slightest ball in transition to increase the tempo. Aaron Gordon is enjoying himself, and everything is going much, much too quickly for Sactown. The Ball Arena is exulting and is not at the end of its joy. Because halftime absolutely does not calm the fury of his protégés.
A 68-22 in 18 minutes!
Nothing is going right for the Kings, totally overwhelmed, with only five points for the holders in the third quarter. The contrast is total with a five of the Nuggets in complete domination, between a Jokic in his usual role of handyman and in triple-double without really forcing even before the fourth quarter and the aggressiveness of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to maintain pressure. In just over 18 minutes, the reigning champions beat their opponents 68-22! Mass is said and Mike Brown prefers to stop the charges at the start of the last quarter.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Nuggets' 5 is wreaking havoc. If the Kings had won the first three rounds this season against Denver, they had each time taken advantage of the absence of at least one starter in Mike Malone. This time the roles were reversed without De'Aaron Fox. And the difference is enormous, with the holders all on more than 14 points.
– Denver arrives in the thick of things. And four victories in a row for the defending champion, all with a difference of 15 points or more, since the All-Star Game. The Nuggets keep the tempo leaders of the West and ideally start their series against teams competing for the playoffs. After the Warriors and the Kings, the rest of the program is tough: against Miami, against the Lakers, against the Suns, then against the Celtics.
– Without Fox, Sacramento is slipping. Nothing very surprising to see a team struggling without one of its major players. But the absence of De'Aaron Fox particularly hurts the Kings, now below 50% this season without their leader (3 wins – 4 losses). Domantas Sabonis was particularly embarrassed.
