NBA Game of the Week: Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets

Just three weeks away from the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend, the Kings and Nuggets will meet for their second head-to-head matchup of the season.

This Thursday night, the Nuggets will host the Kings as they try and finish their first half of the season strong. In the first matchup in Sacramento back in December, the Nuggets won an extremely close game that took Jamal Murray making a 17-footer with 8.1 seconds to go, to give them the 130-129 away victory.

The Kings, now on the road for this matchup, are seeking some revenge for the previous loss.

Both of these teams are in full health for this matchup, which could not be said for the Kings in their last matchup, they added Keegan Murray back into their starting lineup.

He missed the game in December with an ankle injury, which will provide the Kings with some much-needed three-point shooting as they try and break down this well-connected Nuggets defense.

Adding to the troop of players who missed their first game against the Nuggets, Sacramento is excited to have Trey Lyles and Kevin Huerter, two of their key bench pieces, back in the lineup alongside Murray to provide some relief for the core of Sabonis, Fox, and Derozan.

Beyond the minor injuries, there are major differences in this matchup. The Kings have fired their head coach, Mike Brown, since their first matchup, the Kings have changed tactics and leadership and it has culminated in more success than they had through their first 25-30 games of the season.

The Nuggets, on the other hand, are essentially the same team they have been. To begin, you must recognize the tactical genius of head coach Mike Malone, who was quite outspoken towards the Kings when his personal friend, and fellow coach, Mike Brown, was fired by the Kings.

And, how can you talk about the Nuggets without mentioning the Joker, six-time All-Star, three-time MVP, Nikola Jokic, who has continued his utter dominance by having one of, if not the greatest season of all time, averaging 30 points with 13 rebounds, and 10 assists while also accruing almost two steals per game?

It is certain to say Jokic will be right back in the All-Star Game and All-NBA First Team, and despite very stiff competition from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he is still going to be certainly in the conversation for his fourth MVP award.

This game will be a quintessential matchup for the Kings as they size themselves up with the rest of the Western Conference as they attempt to claim their spot in the playoff seeds while also providing the NBA with two of the best forwards in basketball fighting it out.

Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis, two foreign superstars who have been unstoppable in all facets of the game, are averaging over 13 rebounds while garnering 20+ points and 6.5+ assists per game. Literally running their offenses while they attempt to compete in a very open and contentious Western conference.

This is a matchup that could solidify Domantas Sabonis’ spot in the All-Star Game but the Kings are more focused on wins than accolades as they sit just 1.5 games back from the No. 6 seed Los Angeles Lakers.

Meanwhile, if the Nuggets lose this game they risk being dragged into the 5-team battle for the last two playoff spots as there are only 2.5 games that separate the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers from the No. 9 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.

Not even to the All-Star Break and the league is already beginning to have battled for the playoffs, it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out, and it begins right here and now with the Sacramento Kings taking the mile-high trip to Denver to challenge the Nuggets.

Massimo Manfra is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mgm6116@psu.edu.