Nikola Jokic delivered a dominant performance as the Denver Nuggets halted the Sacramento Kings’ win streak with a 132-123 victory on Thursday night. The reigning MVP registered 35 points, 22 rebounds, and a season-high 17 assists, securing his NBA-leading 20th triple-double of the season.
Jokic recorded his fifth consecutive triple-double before the fourth quarter and had already amassed 20 points and 20 rebounds by the end of the third. His 66-foot buzzer-beater capped a 14-5 Nuggets run, giving Denver a commanding 25-point lead entering the final period.
Denver’s victory extended its winning streak to four games, improving the team’s record to 28-16. Christian Braun added 21 points, while Michael Porter Jr. contributed 20 for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook chipped in 18 points each.
Sacramento, now 23-21, showed resilience with a 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter. The Kings reduced the deficit to five points but could not complete the comeback. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 23 points and 17 rebounds, marking his 13th double-double in 14 games.
Doug McDermott provided a spark off the Kings’ bench, knocking down five of seven three-point attempts in the fourth quarter to keep Sacramento within striking distance. De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk contributed 17 and 15 points, respectively, while Trey Lyles scored 12.
The Nuggets dominated the first half, building a 22-point advantage by halftime. Denver maintained control with balanced scoring and efficient playmaking, finishing the game with 30 assists and shooting 48.5% from the field.
Sacramento played the second leg of a back-to-back after defeating the Golden State Warriors the night before. Despite the loss, the Kings have won 10 of their last 13 games under interim head coach Doug Christie.