Preview: Kings aim for 4th straight win in matchup with Nuggets

Dec 16, 2024, 8:25 AM | Updated: 12:51 pm

DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 14: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks for a pass while Keega...

(Photo by Alysa Rubin/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Just ten days ago, things were not looking good for the Sacramento Kings.

Having lost seven of their past nine games, Sacramento was three games under the .500 mark as they searched for stability on both ends of the floor.

If there’s one notable thing about an 82-game NBA regular season, it’s that a lot can change in one week–sometimes good, sometimes bad. In the Kings’ case, the pendulum has finally swung their way.

Sacramento (13-13) enters play on Monday night on a three-game winning streak, winning those contests by an average margin of 24.3 points.

While the success has been much-needed, the Kings will have a tall task ahead of them in their next matchup when they face reigning NBA MVP center Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (13-10) at Golden 1 Center.

Can Sacramento pad the winning streak and improve over the .500 mark for the first time since November 18th?

Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets Info

When: 7:00 PM PT

Where: Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA

TV: NBC Sports California, NBA League Pass (for out-of-market viewers)

Radio: Sactown Sports 1140 AM – Coverage starts at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys

Line: Kings -1.5, O/U 237.5

Tickets: Click here

Be sure to tune in right here on Sactown Sports 1140 for all of your Kings vs. Nuggets coverage, beginning at 2:00 PM PST on The Drive Guys before a 7:00 PM PST tip-off from downtown Sacramento.

Let There Be Scoring

After struggling through the first 20-plus games of the season, the Kings’ offense has been a force to be reckoned with as of late.

Over the past five games, Sacramento has scored 124.4 points per game on 49 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. Since adding Malik Monk to the starting lineup, the Kings have seen a jump in assists per game, jumping from 24.5 to 30.0 per contest.

Monk’s playmaking skills have complemented fellow distributors De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, allowing DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter to benefit from looks on the perimeter and mid-range.

Thanks to a new lineup and rejuvenated offense, Sacramento has a 4-1 record over the past five games. The Kings are 8-4 when scoring 120 points, while Denver is 5-5 this season in games in which they have surrendered 120+ points.

120 points seems like an ideal target for the Kings to chase on Monday night.

Thought Keegan Murray was a LOT more active against the Pelicans. He wasn’t just floating around the perimeter. He got on the offensive glass and was more aggressive with his shots. Loved that he caught and went here. No hesitation at all. Much better! pic.twitter.com/kHJMDSkus6

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 13, 2024

Mr. December

When you look at Keegan Murray’s career splits, one month stands out more than others: December.

During his three-year NBA career, Murray has struggled in November, shooting 38 percent from the field and 26 percent from three-point range over 39 games (the most of any month he has played in). This season, the Iowa product struggled, averaging 11.9 points on 41/26/78 shooting splits in what was a November to forget.

Then, the calendar turned to December.

Murray entered this month with career averages of 14.5 points on 48 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent from three-point range during 34 games in December. Over the first six games of this month, he is holding true to those numbers:

12.3 PTS
7.3 REB
48% FG
38% 3PT
+8.5

Having Murray be an active and efficient part of the offense is a huge boost to a Sacramento rotation that is currently without Kevin Huerter (shoulder) and Trey Lyles (calf).

We’ll see if the former fourth-overall pick can continue his strong play against Denver, but his glowing December track record has instilled confidence in the 24-year-old.

Mind The Paint

Nikola Jokic may very well be on his way to a fourth NBA MVP award this season, but the superstar does have some weaknesses to his game.

Jokic, who enters play averaging 31.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game on 56/51/80 shooting splits (ridiculous, right?), has been the driving force behind Denver’s 13-10 start to the season.

However, Jokic is not a rim-protector, and the Nuggets have struggled to contain opposing teams in the paint thus far in the 2024-25 campaign.

Denver is currently ranked 24th in opponent paint points per game, allowing teams to score 50.2 points around the basket this season. Sacramento has the second-best paint defense in the league this year (42.9 points), primarily due to its help-heavy defense, which looks to keep offenses out of the paint to protect Domantas Sabonis.

While the Kings should emphasize Denver’s weaknesses and attack the paint, they must also be attentive to their end of the floor. The Nuggets lead the NBA in two-point field goal attempts and makes per game, largely because of Jokic’s presence in the post.

The perimeter has been an issue for Sacramento’s defense this year, and they shouldn’t sleep on a Denver offense that also holds a top-ten ranking in three-point field goal percentage (38%, 8th), but this game could very well come down to a battle of the paint.

Notes