Sacramento–Nikola Jokic had his thirty second triple-double of the season with 20 factors, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and Denver beat the Kings of Sacramento 124-116 Wednesday night within the first Nuggets match for the reason that head coach Michael Malone was dismissed.
Christian Braun scored 25 factors and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. every collected 21 factors to assist Denver put an finish to a sequence of 4 defeats and end a scan of the Sacramento season collection.
With two common season video games to play, the Nuggets (48-32) are tied with the Clippers for the pinnacle of the Western Convention.
Malone, probably the most successful coach within the historical past of the franchise who guided the Nuggets to his solely NBA championship in 2023, was dismissed on Tuesday with the director normal Calvin Sales space. David Adelman is an appearing coach of Denver.
Zach Lavine collected 27 factors and 11 assists for the Kings, whose three -game victories sequence ended. Demar derozan added 22 factors for Sacramento, which holds place No. 9 within the West.
The Nuggets led by 16 earlier than the Kings run and launch lower than 113-108 on Keon Ellis’s jumper with 2½ minutes. Jalen Pickett made a mid -range jumper for Denver and Jokic made two free throws to assist assure victory.
The Nuggets closed the primary half on a 13-5 race, then started the third quarter with a thrust of 18-10 to assist their momentum.
Denver shares Braun (16), Porter (14), Gordon (14) and Jokic (10) mixed for 54 of the 66 factors of the Nuggets within the first half.
Friday, the Kings welcome the clippers and the nuggets face the Grizzlies in Denver.
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