Sacramento Kings blow out Denver Nuggets, 131-109 – what in the world is going on?
By Andrew Dill
Nov 5, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur (00) pulls in guard Nate Robinson (5) as he addresses referee Josh Tiven (58) for not calling a foul against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets were handed their third-straight loss after defeating the Detroit Pistons at home on opening night. Sacramento dominated from start-to-finish, outscoring the Nuggets 40-19 in the first quarter. Sacramento went on to win the game by the final of 131-109.
73. Final. 131. 84. 109
Denver couldn’t handle DeMarcus Cousins in the post, giving Timofey Mozgov and JaVale McGee fits all night. Mozzy and McGee combined for seven fouls as Cousins scored 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting in just 22 minutes of action.
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Right behind Cousins in the scoring column was Rudy Gay. Gay couldn’t be stopped either, scoring 29 points on 9-of-12 shooting, making all three shots from downtown. Other starters Darren Collison and Ben McLemore scored 10 points apiece in the winning effort.
Denver continues to look terrible in the half-court offense which leads to too many isolation’s. Denver shot 45.1% percent from the field tonight, which is respectable, but shot way too many three’s. Denver went 9-for-28 from behind-the-arc as Wilson Chandler and Randy Foye combined for 6-of-11 from distance.
Speaking of Foye, he led Denver in the scoring department with 19 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-11 from the field. Starters Wilson Chandler and Ty Lawson added 13 points apiece in the defeat while Darrell Arthur tacked on 11 from the bench.
Denver looks like a mess right now – even Danilo Gallinari continues to struggle. One thing I might suggest is ditch the three center rotation right now and deactivate Jusuf Nurkic for a couple of games. Let’s see what the other first-round pick Gary Harris can do. After all, Harris is arguably one of Denver’s best perimeter defenders which they so desperately needed tonight.
The Denver Nuggets (1-3) resume action tomorrow night as they take on the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers at home. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 PM EST, 8:30 PM MST and will be televised on ESPN.