Game ID: 22401165
Denver Nuggets @ Sacramento Kings
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAC 25 33 25 33 116DEN 33 33 27 31 124
DEN @ SAC ScoutingDEN @ 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.
SAC availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restBACK Sabonis back 3/24 after 3, 35 min since (101% of 35)
BACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 23 min since (72% of 32)
BACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 7 min since (58% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 30 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 2 since 3/31, returns tonight: 5 min (40% of 11)
OUT Carter missed 2 since 3/31, returns tonight: 14 min (126% of 11)
BACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 26 min since (82% of 32)
SAC availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restBACK Monk back 3/27 after 3, 25 min since (80% of 32)
BACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 6 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 14 min since (126% of 11)
SAC availability going into 4/07 · back-to-backBACK Crowder back 3/29 after 33, 6 min since (49% of 11)
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 10 min since (94% of 11)
SAC availability going into 4/09 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
OUT Crowder missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 14 min since (128% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 to 26 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 4/06, returns tonight: 32 min (93% of 34)
OUT Crowder missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 15 min since (137% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 to 31 min over the last 5
SAC availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Crowder missed 4 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/11 after 3, 32 min since (93% of 34)
BACK Carter back 4/04 after 2, 15 min since (138% of 11)
NEW Ellis 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Lyles 20 to 33 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/01 · 3 days' restOUT Strawther missed 14 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 15 since 3/02, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 35 min since (93% of 37)
BACK Murray back 3/21 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 21 min since (183% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 30 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/02 · back-to-backOUT Murray missed 2 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Strawther missed 15 since 3/05, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 16 since 3/02, returns tonight: 8 min (57% of 13)
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 41 min since (109% of 37)
BACK Jordan back 3/23 after 10, 18 min since (156% of 12)
NEW Watson 23 to 33 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 4/01, returns tonight: 41 min (122% of 33)
OUT Strawther missed 16 since 3/05, returns tonight: 1 min (5% of 20)
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 41 min since (109% of 37)
BACK Šarić back 4/02 after 16, 8 min since (57% of 13)
NEW Watson 23 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 23 min over the last 5
NEW Jordan 12 to 17 min over the last 5
NEW Nnaji 10 to 16 min over the last 4
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 3/28, out tonight
BACK Jokić back 3/26 after 5, 40 min since (107% of 37)
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 41 min since (122% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 1 min since (5% of 20)
BACK Šarić back 4/02 after 16, 8 min since (57% of 13)
NEW Watson 23 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restOUT Murray missed 5 since 3/28, out tonight
OUT Šarić missed 2 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 40 min since (119% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 6 min since (29% of 20)
NEW Watson 23 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 27 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 6 since 3/28, returns tonight: 32 min (85% of 37)
OUT Šarić missed 3 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 38 min since (115% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 8 min since (38% of 20)
NEW Braun 35 to 42 min over the last 4
NEW Gordon 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Watson 23 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 29 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 4 since 4/04, out tonight
OUT Nnaji missed 3 since 4/06, returns tonight: 6 min (63% of 10)
BACK Murray back 4/11 after 6, 32 min since (85% of 37)
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 36 min since (108% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 8 min since (38% of 20)
NEW Gordon 30 to 36 min over the last 4
NEW Pickett 13 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/19 · 5 days' restOUT Šarić missed 5 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/11 after 6, 28 min since (76% of 37)
BACK Porter Jr. back 4/04 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 33)
BACK Strawther back 4/04 after 16, 8 min since (41% of 20)
BACK Nnaji back 4/13 after 3, 6 min since (63% of 10)
NEW Pickett 13 to 22 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/21 · 1 day's restOUT Šarić missed 6 since 4/04, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/11 after 6, 35 min since (94% of 37)
BACK Nnaji back 4/13 after 3, 6 min since (63% of 10)
NEW Gordon 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Pickett 13 to 18 min over the last 5
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 118 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; DeRozan at 29 and LaVine at 29 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Murray (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 118, shooting 52 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 40 and Braun at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Murray (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Sacramento's 10 and the arc, Sacramento at 39 percent from three to Denver's 33. Call it Sacramento 119, Denver 115, Denver keeping it close.
4/02 @ WAS 111-116 — SAC notes
SAC lost 111-116. SAC took 11 more shots (95 to 84), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to WAS's 51%, 10 of 39 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 18 — 21 points from the stripe to their 13. DeRozan led with 29 (10 of 23, 1 of 5 from three, 8 of 12 at the line); Sabonis added 18, Murray 18. Q4 was theirs, 34-25, the deficit cut from 14 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them.
4/04 @ CHA 125-102 — SAC notes
SAC won 125-102. SAC shot 49% (45 of 91) to CHA's 40%, 16 of 36 from three, and got to the line 23 times to CHA's 34. SAC turned it over 6 times to CHA's 12. LaVine led with 25 (9 of 19, 4 of 7 from three); Sabonis added 24, DeRozan 22. The hinge was Q2, 42-31: a lead of 8 became 19, and the lead reached 30. Monk was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/06 @ CLE 120-113 — SAC notes
SAC won 120-113. SAC shot 54% (44 of 82) to CLE's 52%, 14 of 33 from three. LaVine led with 37 (15 of 21, 7 of 11 from three); DeRozan added 28, Sabonis 27. The hinge was Q3, 35-22: SAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 12. SAC trailed 56-57 at the half and won the second half 64-56. DeRozan was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
4/07 @ DET 127-117 — SAC notes
SAC won 127-117. SAC shot 52% (47 of 91) to DET's 47%, 11 of 27 from three. The glass went 50-37 for them. LaVine led with 43 (16 of 28, 8 of 11 from three); DeRozan added 37, Sabonis 19. The hinge was Q3, 35-22: SAC came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 3. SAC trailed 62-72 at the half and won the second half 65-45. DeRozan was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
4/09 vs DEN 116-124 — SAC notes
SAC lost 116-124. SAC shot 47% (43 of 92) to DEN's 50%, 16 of 36 from three, and got to the line 17 times to DEN's 31. LaVine led with 27 (10 of 20, 4 of 8 from three); DeRozan added 22, Ellis 20. Q4 was theirs, 33-31, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 93-83 against them. DeRozan's -16 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/11 vs LAC — 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 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; LaVine at 30 and DeRozan at 28 a game. Without Murray (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 105, shooting 53 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; Leonard at 25 and Harden at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 5 a night. Without Coffey (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Sacramento's 39 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 105 a night to Sacramento's 114. Call it the Clippers 115, Sacramento 114, Sacramento keeping it close.
4/13 vs PHX — 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 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; LaVine at 32 and DeRozan at 25 a game. One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 15 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Beal at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Sacramento wins, and the game turns on the arc, Sacramento at 41 percent from three to Phoenix's 31 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-3 a night and Phoenix minus-5. Call it Sacramento 118, Phoenix 111.
4/01 vs MIN 139-140 — DEN notes
DEN lost 139-140 in 2 overtimes. DEN shot 55% (47 of 86) to MIN's 47%, 12 of 34 from three, and went to the line 44 times to MIN's 25 — 33 points from the stripe to their 17. Jokić led with 61 (18 of 29, 6 of 11 from three, 19 of 24 at the line); Gordon added 30, Braun 18. Q1 was theirs, 32-26, but the other 5 periods went 114-107 against them. They led by as many as 16.
4/02 vs SAS 106-113 — DEN notes
DEN lost 106-113. DEN shot 40% (38 of 96) to SAS's 44%, 13 of 44 from three, and went to the line 25 times to SAS's 13 — 17 points from the stripe to their 10. Westbrook led with 30 (11 of 25, 3 of 10 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Tyson added 18, Pickett 17. Q3 was theirs, 31-22, the deficit cut from 12 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 91-75 against them. Jones's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/04 @ GSW 104-118 — DEN notes
DEN lost 104-118. DEN shot 54% (40 of 74) to GSW's 49%, 12 of 31 from three. DEN turned it over 25 times to GSW's 13, and GSW turned those into 14 steals. Jokić led with 33 (13 of 17, 4 of 7 from three); Porter Jr. added 23, Braun 16. Q1 was theirs, 44-34, but the other 3 periods went 84-60 against them. They led by as many as 12. Porter Jr.'s -13 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs IND 120-125 — DEN notes
DEN lost 120-125. DEN shot 54% (50 of 93) to IND's 48%, 8 of 31 from three. DEN turned it over 13 times to IND's 6, and IND turned those into 10 steals. Jokić led with 41 (18 of 33, 3 of 11 from three); Braun added 30, Westbrook 16. Q1 was theirs, 33-24, but the other 3 periods went 101-87 against them. They led by as many as 13. Westbrook's -14 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/09 @ SAC 124-116 — DEN notes
DEN won 124-116. DEN shot 50% (43 of 86) to SAC's 47%, 13 of 34 from three, and went to the line 31 times to SAC's 17 — 25 points from the stripe to their 14. Braun led with 25 (9 of 12, 3 of 5 from three); Gordon added 21, Porter Jr. 21. The hinge was Q1, 33-25: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 16. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
4/11 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Jokić at 39 and Braun at 22 a game. Without Murray (6 straight). One day's rest. Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Morant at 32 and Bane at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, Memphis at 39 percent from three to Denver's 33. Call it Denver 120, Memphis 118, Memphis keeping it close.
4/13 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without VanVleet (2 straight), Thompson (2 straight), Sengun (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Braun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 41 percent from three to Denver's 31 and the line, where Denver takes 24 free throws a game to Houston's 17. Call it Houston 118, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
4/19 vs LAC — 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 116, shooting 51 percent and 32 from three, 25 free throws a game; Jokić at 28 and Braun at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. 5 days' rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 111, shooting 54 percent and 45 from three, 18 free throws a game; Harden at 29 and Leonard at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 8 a night. Without Batum (2 straight). 5 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to Denver's 32 and the line, where Denver takes 25 free throws a game to the Clippers' 18. Call it Denver 117, the Clippers 116, the Clippers keeping it close.
4/21 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 28 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Gordon at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 52 percent and 44 from three, 17 free throws a game; Harden at 30 and Leonard at 26 a game. They have won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 44 percent from three to Denver's 31 and the line, where Denver takes 28 free throws a game to the Clippers' 17. Call it Denver 117, the Clippers 114, the Clippers keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SACDC D. Carter
DD D. DeRozan
DM D. McDermott
DS D. Sabonis
IJ I. Jones
JV J. Valančiūnas
KE K. Ellis
TL T. Lyles
ZL Z. LaVine
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JP J. Pickett
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RW R. Westbrook
SAC/DEN 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 32nd triple-double to lead Nuggets past Kings 124-116 in Denver's 1st game without Malone
SACRAMENTO -- — Nikola Jokic had his 32nd triple-double of the season with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists and Denver beat the Sacramento Kings 124-116 on Wednesday night in the Nuggets' first game since head coach Michael Malone was fired .
Christian Braun scored 25 points and Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr . each had 21 points to help Denver end a four-game losing streak and complete a season series sweep of Sacramento.
With two regular-season games remaining, the Nuggets (48-32) are tied with the Clippers for the No. 4 playoff seed in the Western Conference.
Malone, the winningest coach in franchise history who guided the Nuggets to their only NBA championship in 2023, was fired Tuesday along with general manager Calvin Booth. David Adelman is serving as Denver's interim coach .
Zach LaVine had 27 points and 11 assists for the Kings, whose three-game winning streak ended. DeMar DeRozan added 22 points for Sacramento, which holds the No. 9 spot in the West.
The Nuggets led by 16 before the Kings made a run and got within 113-108 on Keon Ellis ' jumper with 2½ minutes remaining. Jalen Pickett made a mid-range jumper for Denver and Jokic made two free throws to help secure the win.
Key moment The Nuggets closed the first half on a 13-5 run and then began the third quarter with a 18-10 spurt to sustain their momentum.
Key stat Denver starters Braun (16), Porter (14), Gordon (14) and Jokic (10) combined for 54 of the Nuggets’ 66 points in the first half.
Up next The Kings host the Clippers on Friday, and the Nuggets face the Grizzlies in Denver on Friday.