Nuggets vs Kings Preview 2025: Jokic Set for Triple-Double Feast vs Struggling Sacramento
After a massive road win over the Houston Rockets, the Denver Nuggets return home riding high – and they couldn’t ask for a better opponent to keep the momentum rolling. The Sacramento Kings, losers of eight straight and missing All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, limp into Ball Arena on Saturday night. Tip-off is 8:00 PM MST.
Denver (12-3) just handed the Kings (3-13) a 122-108 beating two weeks ago. Now, with Nikola Jokic playing the best basketball of his already legendary career, the Nuggets are heavy favorites to complete the season sweep and finish a tough week 3-1.
Game Info at a Glance
Where: Ball Arena, Denver
TV/Stream: Altitude TV | NBA League Pass
Records: Nuggets 12-3 | Kings 3-13 (8-game losing streak)
Last Meeting: Nuggets won 122-108 (Nov 11, 2025)
Injury Report – Denver Banged Up, Sacramento Depleted
- Nuggets: Aaron Gordon – Doubtful (hamstring) | Christian Braun – Out (ankle) | Julian Strawther – Out (back)
- Kings: Domantas Sabonis – Out (knee) → Huge blow
Denver will miss Gordon’s defense and Braun’s energy, but Sacramento losing their best player and playmaker changes everything. Drew Eubanks starting at center against Jokic? That’s free real estate.
Key Matchups: Where Denver Dominates
| Position | Nuggets | Kings | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG | Jamal Murray | Russell Westbrook | Nuggets |
| SG | Cam Johnson | Zach LaVine | Kings |
| SF | Tim Hardaway Jr. | DeMar DeRozan | Kings |
| PF | Peyton Watson | Keegan Murray | Push |
| C | Nikola Jokic | Drew Eubanks | Nuggets (by a mile) |
| Bench | Bruce Brown, Valančiūnas, Pickett | Monk, Schröder, Ellis | Nuggets |
Three Big Storylines to Watch
1. Can the Nuggets Avoid the Classic Letdown Game?
Coming off an emotional win over Houston, playing on tired legs at home against a bad team late on a Saturday night – this has “trap game” written all over it. Denver has already shown they can sleepwalk through quarters against lesser teams (remember the Pelicans scare?). If Jamal Murray and Peyton Watson bring the defensive intensity early, this could be a blowout by halftime. Let DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine get comfortable in the mid-range? Suddenly it’s a dogfight.
2. Russell Westbrook’s Revenge Tour
Russ still has feelings about Denver not bringing him back. In the first meeting he dropped 26 points and played with fire. Expect the same energy tonight – triple-single threat, full throttle, maybe some turnovers. The Nuggets know how to rattle him: send Peyton Watson to hound him full court and watch the chaos ensue.
Expect 1000% effort – and maybe 35% shooting.
3. Jokic Triple-Double Alert (Again)
Jokic has feasted on the Kings for years – even when Sabonis was healthy. Without him? This could get ugly fast. Joker is stuffing the stat sheet like never before: leading the league in rebounds and assists, shooting over 57% from the field. Another triple-double by the third quarter feels almost guaranteed.
Prediction & Final Thoughts
If Denver brings even 80% effort, this should be over by the fourth quarter. Jokic bullies the paint, Murray gets hot from three, and the bench gets valuable minutes. The only way Sacramento keeps it close is if DeRozan and LaVine go full 2018 Toronto mode and the Nuggets completely switch off defensively.
But this Nuggets team looks different – focused, hungry, and led by the best player on the planet having an MVP-caliber season.
Final Score Prediction: Nuggets 128 – Kings 108
Enjoy the game, Nuggets Nation – and let’s keep that altitude advantage rolling!
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