SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Denver Nuggets overcame “adverse circumstances” to beat the Sacramento Kings 114-98 in a game played without head coach Michael Malone, Paul Millsap and Wilson Chandler and one night after a disastrous showing in Los Angeles. The Nuggets are now 10-7 overall and 3-5 on the road.
Here are eight takeaways from the victory:
1. Wacky lineups. Being down two starting forwards meant acting head coach Wes Unseld Jr. had to get creative with his lineups. Here’s a random sampling.
First quarter: Emmanual Mudiay, Gary Harris, Juancho Hernangomez, Trey Lyles, Mason Plumlee
Start of second quarter: Mudiay, Will Barton, Juancho Hernangomez, Plumlee, Nikola Jokic
Later in second quarter: Barton, Harris, Hernangomez, Plumlee, Jokic
Start of fourth quarter: Jamal Murray, Harris, Hernangomez, Lyles Plumlee
The most successful from the above groups was the third, which helped spark a 9-0 Nuggets run.