Jamal Murray hit a clutch jumper with just 8.6 seconds left on the clock, propelling the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 130-129 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic’s impressive 10th triple-double of the season with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, managed to snap the Kings’ three-game winning streak. Murray shone brightly with a 28-point performance, while Russell Westbrook contributed 18 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists to secure the win for Denver.
Denver, with a record of 14-10, found themselves trailing by 10 points with merely four minutes remaining in the game. However, displaying incredible resilience, the Nuggets mounted a spirited comeback fueled by a 14-3 run down the stretch. The game witnessed a thrilling exchange of leads seven times in the final 75 seconds, culminating in Murray’s game-winning shot that came just 12 seconds after DeMar DeRozan’s emphatic baseline dunk briefly put the Kings (13-14) in front. DeRozan’s subsequent miss inside the paint sealed the victory for the Nuggets as they held on to secure the win.
The Kings showcased a valiant effort with Domantas Sabonis putting up an impressive stat line of 28 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, while De’Aaron Fox added 29 points and seven assists to the Kings’ cause. Malik Monk chipped in with 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Nuggets’ late surge.
Key Takeaways:
Nuggets: Westbrook’s versatility and impact were pivotal for Denver’s success in this matchup. The seasoned All-Star, who has predominantly been coming off the bench this season, showcased his ability to step up in crucial moments, especially in his spot start on Monday in the absence of the injured Christian Braun.
Kings: Despite a slow start that saw them fall behind 41-21 at the end of the first quarter, Mike Brown’s team displayed commendable energy and resilience to claw their way back into the game and even take the lead at one point. While trailing in physicality for most of the night, the Kings showed significant improvement in the second half, making it a closely contested affair.
Key Moment:
Aaron Gordon’s pivotal 3-pointer with just 1:49 left in the game brought the Nuggets within touching distance of the Kings. A steal by Michael Porter Jr. on the ensuing possession led to a crucial bucket by Jokic off an assist from Westbrook, swinging the lead in Denver’s favor at 123-122 with 1:15 remaining. This sequence set the stage for a back-and-forth battle until the final buzzer.
