Nikola Jokic scored a season-high 34 points and recorded 14 assists, guiding the Denver Nuggets to a 130-124 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night at Ball Arena.
Aaron Gordon added 20 points as Denver maintained control throughout the game, never trailing against Sacramento. The Nuggets improved to 4-2 on the season.
Jokic opened the night with 15 first-quarter points, helping Denver build a 12-point lead. He briefly rested at the start of the fourth, allowing the Kings to close the gap to 110-104 before returning to hit a three-pointer, set up a corner three for Bruce Brown, and make two layups.
Christian Braun contributed a season-high 21 points, bouncing back after a five-point outing against Portland on Friday. Jamal Murray added 15 points and seven assists, while Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon helped sustain the Nuggets’ offensive balance.
Sacramento was led by Russell Westbrook, who scored a season-high 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in his return to Denver. Zach LaVine, who had been averaging 29.5 points, scored a season-low 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Seven Kings players scored in double figures, but the team struggled to overcome Denver’s consistent scoring.
The Kings host Golden State on Wednesday night, while Denver continues its four-game homestand against Miami.
