Jamal Murray scored a team-high 28 points and made the game-winning shot with 8.6 seconds left, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 130-129 win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.
Nikola Jokic achieved his 140th career triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists, helping the Nuggets secure their third straight win.
The Nuggets, who had a 23-point lead in the second quarter, fell behind by 10 points with 4:10 remaining in the game but made a strong comeback.
The Kings took a 129-128 lead with 20.5 seconds left after a dunk from DeMar DeRozan, prompting the Nuggets to call a timeout.
Murray then made a 17-foot shot, assisted by Jokic, to give Denver the lead for good. DeRozan missed a 6-foot shot at the buzzer, and the Nuggets won.
Sacramento quickly recovered after falling behind 24-6 early and 44-21 in the second quarter. Doug McDermott hit three 3-pointers, and DeRozan scored 11 points, including three three-point plays, as the Kings outscored the Nuggets 47-41 in the second period.
Sacramento went into halftime trailing 75-68, setting the stage for a close second half.
With 4:10 left in the game, the Nuggets were down 119-109 but went on a 14-3 run to take a 123-122 lead on a 10-foot shot by Jokic with 1:15 remaining.
The teams exchanged quick baskets, with DeRozan’s dunk giving the Kings a one-point lead before Murray’s go-ahead shot for Denver.
Jokic finished with his 10th triple-double of the season, leading the league. He is now third all-time in triple-doubles, behind Russell Westbrook (200) and Oscar Robertson (181). Westbrook also came close to a triple-double, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds.
Aaron Gordon added 24 points, Julian Strawther scored 13, and Michael Porter Jr. had 11 for the Nuggets.
Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox was the leading scorer with 29 points, while Domantas Sabonis had 28 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
Malik Monk finished with 25 points and a team-high 10 assists for the Kings. DeRozan had 17 points, McDermott scored 16, and Keon Ellis added 12.
