Domantas Sabonis will be sidelined for the Sacramento Kings in their crucial regular season game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
The Kings jumped out to a 13-point lead after the first quarter and took a 10-point lead into halftime. Denver shot just 40.9% in the first half. But the Nuggets rallied back, cutting to lead to lead to 4 late in the third quarter.
Westbrook went for 25 points, two steals and two blocks. His corner three with 1:28 to go doubled the lead. But Sacramento did not go quietly. Zach LaVine answered 20 seconds later, and the Nuggets needed a stop and free throws to seal the win.
The frustration comes after the Kings put together one of their best defensive efforts in recent memory. They created a unique game plan to slow three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, using forwards Keegan Murray and Jake LaRavia to guard the 6-foot-11 center, while Jonas Valanciunas clogged the lane to prevent drivers to the basket.
One Kings player who has stepped up his game lately is Keegan Murray. He's started all season for the Kings and is averaging 12.4 points per game, but since trading De’Aaron Fox, Murray has started taking more shots and he’s red-hot heading into this matchup.
DeMar DeRozan powered the Kings against the Nuggets, passing Patrick Ewing for 27th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.