Game ID: 22400896
Sacramento Kings @ Denver Nuggets
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 29 26 29 32 116SAC 42 23 28 17 110
DEN vs SAC ScoutingDEN vs SAC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
DEN availability going into 2/24 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 9 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 2/20, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 30 min since (89% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 25 min since (91% of 27)
NEW Strawther 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 13 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Nnaji 10 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/27 · 2 days' restOUT Watson missed 10 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 2/20, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 31 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (89% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Watson missed 11 since 2/01, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 2/20, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 13)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 32 min since (96% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 25 min since (90% of 27)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 20 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Watson missed 12 since 2/01, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/20 after 3, 33 min since (100% of 33)
BACK Westbrook back 2/20 after 7, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/05 · 2 days' restOUT Gordon missed 2 since 2/28, out tonight
OUT Watson missed 13 since 2/01, returns tonight: 17 min (75% of 23)
BACK Šarić back 2/28 after 4, 4 min since (27% of 13)
DEN availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Gordon missed 3 since 2/28, returns tonight: 39 min (128% of 30)
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 17 min since (75% of 23)
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 39 min since (128% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 20 min since (90% of 23)
DEN availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Strawther missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 4 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 3 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 16 min since (69% of 23)
NEW Porter Jr. 33 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 17 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Strawther missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 5 since 3/02, out tonight
OUT Jordan missed 4 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Gordon back 3/07 after 3, 23 min since (75% of 30)
BACK Watson back 3/05 after 13, 18 min since (79% of 23)
SAC availability going into 2/24 · 2 days' restOUT Crowder missed 16 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 2/21 after 4, 3 min since (27% of 11)
NEW Monk 32 to 37 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 2/26 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 17 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 2/21 after 4, 5 min since (44% of 11)
NEW Monk 32 to 37 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/01 · 2 days' restOUT Crowder missed 18 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 2/21 after 4, 5 min since (44% of 11)
SAC availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 19 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 2 since 2/26, out tonight
SAC availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 20 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 3 since 2/26, out tonight
SAC availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 21 since 1/16, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 4 since 2/26, returns tonight: 14 min (131% of 11)
NEW Valančiūnas 17 to 23 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Sabonis missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Monk missed 2 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 22 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 3/07 after 4, 14 min since (131% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 17 to 25 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/10 · back-to-backOUT Sabonis missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Monk missed 3 since 3/05, returns tonight: 30 min (93% of 32)
OUT Crowder missed 23 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Carter back 3/07 after 4, 13 min since (121% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW LaRavia 19 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Valančiūnas 17 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 3/13 · 2 days' restOUT Sabonis missed 5 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 24 since 1/16, out tonight
BACK Monk back 3/10 after 3, 30 min since (93% of 32)
BACK Carter back 3/07 after 4, 13 min since (119% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW LaRavia 19 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Valančiūnas 17 to 29 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Murray at 22 and Jokić at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight), Watson (13 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 104, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and DeRozan at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 104 a night to Denver's 118. Call it Sacramento 116, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
2/24 @ IND 125-116 — DEN notes
DEN won 125-116. DEN shot 56% (53 of 94) to IND's 47%, 8 of 21 from three, and got to the line 14 times to IND's 27. The glass went 46-32 for them. Gordon led with 25 (11 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Porter Jr. added 19, Jokić 18. The hinge was Q3, 36-25: a lead of 6 became 17. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/27 @ MIL 112-121 — DEN notes
DEN lost 112-121. DEN took 15 more shots (105 to 90), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to MIL's 47%, 9 of 34 from three, and got to the line 11 times to MIL's 28. Jokić led with 32 (13 of 16, 5 of 7 at the line); Murray added 20, Braun 13. Q2 was theirs, 27-24, but the other 3 periods went 97-85 against them. M. Porter Jr.'s -20 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/28 @ DET 134-119 — DEN notes
DEN won 134-119. DEN shot 56% (47 of 84) to DET's 45%, 17 of 31 from three, and went to the line 31 times to DET's 23 — 23 points from the stripe to their 17. DEN turned it over 19 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 15 steals. Murray led with 31 (10 of 22, 5 of 9 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Porter Jr. added 28, Braun 23. The hinge was Q3, 39-24: a lead of 5 became 20, and the lead reached 25. Porter Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
3/02 @ BOS 103-110 — DEN notes
DEN lost 103-110. DEN took 8 more shots (86 to 78), but shot 48% to BOS's 47%, 12 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to BOS's 27. Murray led with 26 (11 of 20, 2 of 7 from three); Braun added 24, Jokić 20. Q3 was theirs, 29-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 88-74 against them. Strawther's -18 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/05 vs SAC 116-110 — DEN notes
DEN won 116-110. DEN shot 46% (40 of 87) to SAC's 46%, 12 of 35 from three, and went to the line 30 times to SAC's 14 — 24 points from the stripe to their 11. Westbrook led with 25 (10 of 20, 4 of 7 from three); J. Murray added 24, Jokić 22. The hinge was Q4, 32-17: DEN came in trailing by 9 and left it ahead by 6. DEN trailed 55-65 at the half and won the second half 61-45. J. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/07 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 23 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Durant at 26 and Booker at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 43 percent from three to Denver's 37 and the defense, Denver allowing 115 a night to Phoenix's 123. Call it Denver 121, Phoenix 115.
3/09 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 38 and Jal. Williams at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 120, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, OKC allowing 114 a night to Denver's 120. Call it OKC 122, Denver 116.
3/10 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 41 and Jal. Williams at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 121, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 23 a game. Without Strawther (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 111 a night to Denver's 121. Call it OKC 122, Denver 114.
3/12 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 123, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 24 a game. Without Strawther (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 110, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 18 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and McDaniels at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 110 a night to Denver's 123. Call it Denver 118, Minnesota 117, Minnesota keeping it close.
2/24 vs CHA 130-88 — SAC notes
SAC won 130-88. SAC shot 54% (47 of 87) to CHA's 35%, 20 of 38 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CHA's 24. The glass went 49-37 for them. LaVine led with 42 (16 of 19, 8 of 9 from three); DeRozan added 18, Monk 13. The hinge was Q4, 42-16: a lead of 16 became 42, and the lead reached 45. LaVine was the night's best plus/minus at +36.
2/26 @ UTA 118-101 — SAC notes
SAC won 118-101. SAC shot 53% (46 of 87) to UTA's 45%, 15 of 36 from three. The glass went 47-34 for them. Murray led with 26 (9 of 16, 5 of 10 from three); LaVine added 22, DeRozan 19. The hinge was Q2, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Ellis was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/01 @ HOU 113-103 — SAC notes
SAC won 113-103. SAC shot 51% (44 of 87) to HOU's 43%, 9 of 28 from three. DeRozan led with 21 (7 of 18, 1 of 5 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); LaVine added 20, Monk 16. The hinge was Q1, 25-21: from level to 4 ahead, and the lead reached 16. LaVine was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
3/03 @ DAL 122-98 — SAC notes
SAC won 122-98. SAC shot 52% (47 of 90) to DAL's 45%, 16 of 34 from three, and got to the line 12 times to DAL's 24. SAC turned it over 7 times to DAL's 13. LaVine led with 22 (8 of 12, 4 of 5 from three); DeRozan added 20, Murray 18. The hinge was Q3, 34-16: a lead of 10 became 28, and the lead reached 32. Murray was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
3/05 @ DEN 110-116 — SAC notes
SAC lost 110-116. SAC took 9 more shots (96 to 87), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 46% to DEN's 46%, 11 of 27 from three, and got to the line 14 times to DEN's 30. DeRozan led with 35 (14 of 32, 4 of 6 from three); LaVine added 20, Valančiūnas 19. Q1 was theirs, 42-29, but the other 3 periods went 87-68 against them. They led by as many as 14.
3/07 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 101, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 15 free throws a game; LaVine at 25 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Sabonis (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Castle at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the defense, Sacramento allowing 101 a night to San Antonio's 123 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and San Antonio minus-6. Call it Sacramento 120, San Antonio 111.
3/09 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Leonard at 24 a game. Without Powell (3 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; LaVine at 24 and DeRozan at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Sabonis (3 straight), Monk (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 42 percent from three to the Clippers' 34 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-6 a night and the Clippers minus-1. Call it Sacramento 112, the Clippers 111, the Clippers keeping it close.
3/10 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and LaVine at 26 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Sabonis (4 straight), Monk (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 28 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 30 and Anunoby at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to New York's 28 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-5 a night and New York minus-2. Call it Sacramento 115, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
3/13 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 27 free throws a game; Curry at 29 and Butler III at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Podziemski (2 straight), Kuminga (31 straight). 2 days' rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; LaVine at 25 and DeRozan at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Sabonis (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Golden State takes 27 free throws a game to Sacramento's 19 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 14 times a game to Sacramento's 10. Call it Golden State 117, Sacramento 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENCB C. Braun
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
ZN Z. Nnaji
SACDD D. DeRozan
DM D. McDermott
JL J. LaRavia
JV J. Valančiūnas
KE K. Ellis
KM K. Murray
MF M. Fultz
TL T. Lyles
ZL Z. LaVine
DEN/SAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jokic has 22 points, 14 rebounds, Nuggets beat Kings, 116-110
DENVER -- — Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Russell Westbrook scored 25 points, and the Denver Nuggets rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 116-110 on Wednesday night.
Jamal Murray added 24 points for Denver, which has won the first three games between the teams this season.
DeMar DeRozan scored 18 of his 35 points in the third quarter to give Sacramento a 93-84 lead heading into the fourth, but Westbrook gave the Nuggets a lift with seven straight points.
Zeke Nnaji 's 3-pointer from the top of the circle put Denver ahead 96-95, its first lead since the first quarter, but Zach LaVine heated up after the Nuggets went up 110-104. He scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth, including two deep 3-pointers that kept the Kings within three.
Westbrook hit another 3-pointer and Murray and Jokic sealed it from the line.
Takeaways Kings: Got a boost from Jake LaRivia, whose 15 points are the most since coming over from Memphis in early February. He scored 11 points in just 4:21 of action in the first quarter and had 15 at halftime but was held scoreless in the second half.
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon missed his third straight game with an ankle injury, while Peyton Watson returned after missing 13 games with a knee sprain. Watson had two points in 17 minutes.
Key moment The Nuggets usually struggle in the non-Jokic minutes but they outscored the Kings 12-2 to start the fourth with the three-time MVP on the bench.
Key stat Murray was fouled three times on 3-point attempts and made all nine free throws. He went 14 of 15 from the line, finishing with more attempts and makes than Sacramento.
Up next The Kings host the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. The Nuggets wrap up their quick two-game homestand Friday night against the Phoenix Suns .