The Denver Nuggets came away with a big win in Sacramento
The Denver Nuggets now hold a one game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With the win in Sacramento and Portland, Dallas, and Minnesota all losing heartbreaking games, Nuggets fans can breathe easier for a time now.
The Nuggets have now won their last two back-to-backs, which is important considering they have struggled with them all year. With a stretch of 16 games coming up, most of which feature playoff contenders or teams vying for playoff position, this was a huge game for Denver.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets will take on the Lakers Monday night, which will be a pivotal turning point for this young squad.
The Nuggets looked as if they were going to choke the lead away at times against the Kings. However, guys like Murray, Jokic, and Harris made sure to keep the Nuggets in a position to win. Behind this young and rising trio, this team can do many magnificent things.
The Nuggets played good enough defense to force the win on the road. This was vital since Wilson Chandler had an off game shooting only 23.1% from the field that resulted in only six points for him.
Nikola Jokic had himself another stellar performance scoring 20 points to go along with 14 rebounds.
Gary Harris has silently became the team’s most consistent weapon. He scored 24 points on 66.7% shooting and even shot 40% from beyond the arc. Do not forget that he is one of the top 10 three point specialists this season.
Jamal Murray is really settling in as part of Denver’s future as he had a huge fourth quarter to propel the Nuggets to the 105-92 win. He finished with 14 points with a box plus/minus of +8 in just 19 minutes of play.
Must Read: Denver's Young Trio Leads the Way to a Big Win
The Nuggets now find themselves on a two game winning streak and they will need to capitalize on this momentum for the Lakers game and going forward. If not, then reaching the post season will become increasingly difficult for this young squad.