Nuggets 122, Kings 97
SACRAMENTO -- The Denver Nuggets dominated from start to finish Sunday afternoon and cruised to a 122-97 victory over the Sacramento Kings before an announced crowd 13,327 at Sleep Train Arena.
Six Nuggets reached double-figure scoring, while none of Denver's players saw more than 28 minutes of action. Reserve center JaVale McGee led the Nuggets (13-12) with 19 points, and while Danilo Gallinari followed closely behind with 18.
Sacramento (7-16) was led by backup point guard Isaiah Thomas, who scored 20 points. Starting center DeMarcus Cousins scored 19. Kings forward Jason Thompson added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Denver shot nearly 60 percent through most of the contest and held a 30-point advantage throughout much of the second half. The Nuggets had a high lead of 34 points, while the Kings led once, by two points.
The Nuggets' superior athleticism and teamwork was too much for the Kings to handle.
Denver, which leads the league in points in the paint, outscored Sacramento 64-38 in that category.
The Nuggets got whatever they wanted at the offensive end and prevented the Kings from doing anything offensively. Among Denver's starters, only Kenneth Faried failed to reach double-figure scoring.
The 7-foot McGee used his length and jumping ability to bring his reserve teammates to their feet in celebration. He scored 19 points in 21 minutes. Of his seven made field goals, five were dunks. However, it was the ease with which he scored that was so impressive.
Sacramento had difficulty penetrating Denver's perimeter defense, much less scoring around the basket. It didn't help when swingman Tyreke Evans left late in the first quarter with a sore left knee. Evans, who has been troubled for the past three weeks with the same ailment, did not return. Moreover, Kings shooting guard Marcus Thornton missed his third consecutive game due to an illness in the family.
NOTES: Thomas scored 23 points in the fourth quarter Friday night at Oklahoma City, falling two points short of matching the Kings' franchise record for most points scored in a quarter. Mitch Richmond had a 25-point quarter on Dec. 15, 1995, during a 47-point performance at Houston. ... The Nuggets are the first team since the 1985-86 Chicago Bulls to begin the season 17 of their first 23 on the road. ... Denver coach George Karl remains wary of the Los Angeles Lakers. "I haven't seen them with (injured point guard) Steve Nash. I still believe Nash has a bit of magic left in him. I think he has the ability to make teams better than they really are. And if he can do that with that team, then I think we're all I trouble," Karl said.
