By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After rallying from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter, the Sacramento Kings defeated the Denver Nuggets, 128-123, in Ball Arena on Saturday.
Helping his side snap an eight-game losing streak in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, Dennis Schroder shared a team-high 21 points with Russell Westbrook behind 6/8 from the field, including 3/3 from beyond the arc. The German reserve added seven assists and three rebounds over 18:23.
With Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee partial meniscus tear) on the injury list, further European contribution went into French Maxime Raynaud, who put in six points, three rebounds, one steal, and one assist in 8:27. In contrast, Croatian Dario Saric did not play for the team coached by Doug Christie.
On the wrong end of a comeback win, Serbian Nikola Jokic recorded a game-high 44 points with 16/28 field goals, including three triples. Lasting 36:35, he shaped a double-double with 13 rebounds and dished seven assists.
“OK, we had a game yesterday, but it looked like everything was heavy for us,” said the Joker, referring to his side completing a back-to-back after edging out the Houston Rockets in Toyota Center on Friday.
“I think we are not that good,” he added on a 12-4 run so far in the Regular Season, “I think we need to be much better if we want to do something big. Yes, we’ve played better. We look better. But I think we need to consistently, every night, every possession.”
Lithuanian reserve Jonas Valanciunas went for eight points, two rebounds, one block, and one assist in 11:13 for the team coached by David Adelman.
Returning to Golden 1 Center with a 4-13 record, the Kings welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Nuggets visiting the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.