Denver Nuggets host struggling Sacramento Kings

Limiting Hield is the Denver Nuggets key to beating the Kings

Gary Harris has rightfully garnered the most praise for the Nuggets ability to hold opposition guards and wings under their season averages, but Will Barton and Jamal Murray‘s much-improved defense have gone a long way towards vaulting Denver to the top of the defensive charts this season. That defense will be tested again tonight with Buddy Hield coming to town, and the Sacramento Kings often go as their sweet shooting guard goes.

Saturday night marked the first time in seven games that Hield had topped 20 points, and it’s no surprise that the Kings went 1-6 over that stretch. Prior to his cold-shooting snap, Hield had scored at least 20 points in ten straight games, including a season high 41 points against the Boston Celtics to start the streak on November 25th. Sacramento went 5-5 over that stretch.

Hield showed signs of life on Saturday, scoring his 23 points on 8-17 shooting from the field, which was his first time over 40% during the Kings six game losing streak, and 4-6 from three point range, which was his first time over 50% during the streak. It’s imperative that the Nuggets guards don’t let Hield find his rhythm, or it could be a tough night for the Nuggets defensively.

The good news is that Denver’s backcourt has been limiting scorers like Hield all season. Most recently, the Suns Devin Booker was again hounded by the likes of Harris and Barton in the Nuggets win on December 23rd and held to just 11 points on 3-12 shooting. In his two games since then, Booker has scored 34, as well as 32 in the Suns win over the Kings last night. It’s clear that the ability is there, so it will come down to focus and effort on the second night of a back-to-back for the Nuggets to limit Hield’s contributions.

If Denver comes out of the gate defensively the same way they did against the Grizzlies yesterday afternoon, and Michael Porter, Jr. continues to improve his all-around game, expect the Denver Nuggets to comfortably head into their six game road trip with another victory under their belts.