Russell Westbrook and the Kings make a sensation in Denver!

Rating of Kings was high for this match. However, despite the disastrous dynamics (eight defeats in a row), they achieved a very surprising victory on the floor Nuggets (128-123). The Nuggets, without Aaron Gordon in addition to Christian Brown, were undoubtedly worn down by the fight the day before in Houston.

The feeling of fatigue that did not originate from Nikola Jokić, the author of another colossal match (44 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists), but who seemed very lonely in the last moments, when his team tried to pick up the result. However, the locals took this meeting in the right direction, behind the serious start of Peyton Watson.

The Nikola Jokic-Jamal Murray duo didn’t have to score much in the first period, as Cam Johnson and others responded. A few minutes after going to the locker room, the Nuggets offered themselves the biggest deficit (79-66). But this seeming peace was disturbed by the good combined passes of Keegan Murray and Dennis Schroeder who won the award for the reinforcement of the night (21 points and 7 assists in 18 minutes!).

Russell Westbrook takes over for Dennis Schroeder

Unsustainable at the end of the third quarter, the German would allow Sacramento to get back level with the Nuggets (92-91) before a lopsided final period. Especially since the home team’s offense had a little more difficulty generating shots, relying almost exclusively on the high pick-and-roll between Murray and Jokic.

Not a bad idea considering the capital in the last quarter signed by the Serbian. The problem was that on the other side, the local defense could not contain the circular attacks, as well as the prize baskets in the corners, by the veteran of the house: Russell Westbrook.

He found himself in a long distance duel with the pivot. Three minutes from the end, DeMar DeRozan found him in the corner for the winning shot, to which Nikola Jokić responded at the head of the racket (115-119).

Nikola Jokić, who was caught on three or even four on one of the last possessions, multiplied until the end, but Sacramento remained one step ahead. With 12 seconds left, DeMar DeRozan made a mid-range 2+1 with the board to end proceedings.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Russell Westbrook at home. Already very productive during his first return to Colorado 20 days ago (26 points and 12 rebounds), the playmaker leaves Denver this time with a victory in which he had a huge impact. Discreet during the previous two quarters, he only made good decisions in the last, showing patience or aggressiveness towards the circle when needed. He finished 2/6 from distance, but his two game-winning shots came in the decisive quarter. He distributed 11 passes for only one lost ball.

– The Nuggets bench is outclassed. With shortened rotations, Denver didn’t get much help off the bench. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. generally lacked skill. Unlike player opposite Dennis Schroeder, who scored more points than the entire Nuggets bench! Malik Monk also had a positive influence on the result, while Prešes Ačiuva did what he could in defense against Jokić, and Maxime Reynaud also contributed.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.