Nuggets beat Kings 125-117
By Eric Meyer
Jan 26, 2014; Sacramento, CA, Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
The Denver Nuggets came into their game on Sunday Night playing the second game of back to backs. After a spirited win over the East Leading Pacers Saturday the Nuggets needed to maintain their energy level against the young and undermanned Kings in Sacramento. They were able to maintain their high level of play for most of the game and came away with an important 125-117 victory. Ty Lawson led the Nuggets in scoring with 27 points and threw in 6 assists as well. Wilson Chandler had another impressive game after his monster effort against the Pacers with 20 points and 5 assists. The 125 points scored was the third highest point total for the Nuggets on the season and they are 12-2 when they score 110 points or more in a game. The Kings were led by Point Guard Isaiah Thomas who tallied 22 points and 8 assists while Shooting Guard Marcus Thornton added 19. The Nuggets also bounced back at the Free Throw Line. After their 52% performance from the line against the Pacers, they shot a very respectable 31-40 (77.5%) from the line against the Kings and that was really the difference in the game. They did not make a basket from the field in the last 3:30 of the game but went 14-19 from the line during that time to put the game away. The win brings the Nuggets record back over .500 to 22-21 and dropped the Kings to 15-28 on the season. With the 2 game winning streak the Nuggets moved into 10th postion in the Western Conference Playoff Standings and within 2 1/2 games of the Dallas Mavericks for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West. Several other Nuggets had good games to help in the win including Kenneth Faried with 15 points and 11 Rebounds, Timofey Mozgoz who threw in 14 Points as the Nuggets had 6 players score in double figures. The Nuggets begin a 4 game home stand on Wednesday with a contest against the Charlotte Bobcats. They also host the Toronto Raptors, LA Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks at Pepsi Center before heading back out on the road with a game next Friday against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.