SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Without two of their best 3-point shooters, the Nuggets were naturally going to have trouble keeping up with the Kings if they didn’t defend the perimeter well Friday night.
Sacramento made 17 of 34 shots beyond the arc, and the Nuggets lost a 135-106 laugher to the Kings at Golden 1 Center, missing an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
Six Kings scored at least a dozen points, while Denver (36-17) turned it over 20 times with just 26 assists.
Michael Porter Jr. (right knee tendinopathy) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right hamstring tightness) were both ruled out in the last 90 minutes before opening tip as the Nuggets warmed up for their first back-to-back in more than a month and 10th this season.