Game Preview: Kings v Nuggets

The Sacramento Kings and the Denver Nuggets each face the second game of
back-to-backs, as they face off in Sacramento, at Golden 1 Center on Saturday
evening. The Kings (25-40) are 2-8 in their last 10 games and have lost seven
straight. They won their first game after the Cousins trade but have gone
belly-up since then. Nonetheless, they have put up a couple good fights,
including in their Friday night loss against the Wizards, where they played well
for three quarters, before a fourth-quarter collapse and losing the game in
overtime. Willie Cauley-Stein was the high-point man in the loss, with 20 points
on 7-of-12 shooting, while Arron Afflalo and Buddy Hield added 18 points each.
The Kings sit 12th in the West, five games behind the eighth-place Nuggets;
while a win in their matchup on Saturday could bring them closer, things are not
looking too good, with three teams between them and eighth, who are all playing
well. The Kings have dropped five straight at home, where they are 13-20 so far
this season. Tyreke Evans (rest) sat out of Friday’s contest but should be ready
to go for Saturday. Meanwhile, the Nuggets (30-25) are 5-5 in their last 10 and
doing just enough to keep a grip on the eighth spot in the West, where they have
a one-game lead over the ninth-place Trail Blazers. The Nuggets are coming off
an impressive 119-99 home win over the Celtics on Friday, where Wilson Chandler
led the way with 23 points, while Nikola Jokic followed up with 21 points, 10
rebounds and seven assists, and Danilo Gallinari added 20 points. Emmanuel
Mudiay did not crack the rotation on Friday, despite being listed as available
to play, while Kenneth Faried (back) remained sidelined and is doubtful for
Saturday. The Nuggets have won their last two games on the road, where they are
12-19 so far this season.

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