The Kings faced a tough challenge Thursday night at the Golden 1 Center, struggling without three of their key players—Zach LaVine (thumb illness), Dennis Schroder (hip), and Domantas Sabonis (partially torn left MCL)—against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets, fueled by Nikola Jokic’s impressive 36 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, dominated the game early and maintained a lead as large as 37 points, ultimately winning 136-105. Sacramento’s ongoing struggles continued, marking their second consecutive loss, sixth loss in seven games since early November, and 14th defeat in 17 games overall.
Russell Westbrook contributed 17 points, three rebounds, and five assists, while Keegan Murray added 15 points and six rebounds. Maxime Raynaud stepped up with 15 points and nine rebounds, Malik Monk scored 18 points along with five assists, and DeMar DeRozan reached a career milestone by surpassing Vince Carter for 23rd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 25,734 points. Despite DeRozan’s achievement, the Kings’ record now stands at 6-19, a sharp downturn compared to last season’s 9-10 at the same point.
The Kings found themselves in a difficult hole early on, especially during the second quarter, as Jokic’s scoring frenzy continued with 16 points. Sacramento’s performance faltered further in the third quarter with five turnovers and only 17 points scored. With Sabonis sidelined and Drew Eubanks also injured, rookie Raynaud faced off against Jokic, holding his own and showing growth in his development. Precious Achiuwa also saw time against Jokic, but Raynaud primarily took on the responsibility.
DeRozan’s milestone moment brought a bit of brightness to an otherwise tough night and signaled his ongoing pursuit of climbing the NBA’s scoring ranks, eyeing players like Stephen Curry next. Meanwhile, the Kings’ recent first-round pick Devin Carter returned to play after nearly a month, adding 15 points in limited minutes as he gains more experience following his time in the G League.
Fan Take: Sacramento’s current challenges highlight the unforgiving nature of NBA competition and the importance of depth in a roster. For basketball fans, seeing young players like Raynaud rise to the occasion amid adversity offers hope for the team’s future and adds a compelling narrative to the season.
