Nuggets vs. Kings: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Denver Nuggets (33-25) play against the Sacramento Kings (38-38) at Golden 1 Center

Game Time: 10:00 PM EST on Thursday February 24, 2022

Denver Nuggets 20, Sacramento Kings 17 (Q1 05:38)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Damian Jones and Trey Lyles into the game. – 10:23 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jeff Green comes out of the game. Nuggets may decide to stagger him with the second unit. – 10:23 PM

Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Could’ve used a little of this on All-Star Saturday👀 pic.twitter.com/qIBJiHJUdc – 10:22 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Former Kings forward Metta World Peace is in the building tonight. – 10:19 PM

Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Before tonight’s game tipped-off with the Kings and Nuggets in Sacramento, both teams joined arm-in-arm in support of Kings C Alex Len, whose home country of Ukraine has been invaded by Russia.
Their message: “NO WAR.” pic.twitter.com/qog1bx3Syl – 10:18 PM

Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Strong start💪 pic.twitter.com/Qmi71aGV3G – 10:18 PM

Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Aaron Gordon is active early in Sacramento. He’s up to 6 points after spinning off a defender and finishing. He’s grabbed three rebounds as well. Nuggets lead the Kings 13-8 early. – 10:18 PM

Michael Singer @msinger
Aaron Gordon looks really good coming out of the break. You wonder if that extended time off helped him rest that balky hamstring. He’s already got 6 points, 3 rebounds in four minutes. – 10:17 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Nuggets start the game pretty well on both ends of the floor. Like what I see from Gordon and Barton. – 10:16 PM

Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Aaron Gordon looks spry – 10:15 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Fox drill a 3-pointer for his first bucket. 11-8 Nuggets. – 10:15 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Sabonis’ 3-ball was his first make from deep as a member of the Kings. He was 0-for-3 in his first 4 games. – 10:14 PM

Matt George @MattGeorgeSAC
Domantas Sabonis scoring on Jokic in the post, hitting a three, and taking the ball up the floor in the first couple minutes.
You love to see it. – 10:14 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets stand in solidarity with Alex Len to denounce Russia’s attack on Ukraine during a moment of silence before tonight’s game. pic.twitter.com/zYRlHCUtlL – 10:14 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Sabonis triple. – 10:13 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Sabonis started the scoring for Sacramento with a half hook over Jokic. 3-2 Denver. – 10:12 PM

Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Game time. We’re back. LET’S GO‼️ – 10:12 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
The Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets held moment of silence pregame tonight and all linked arms in solidarity with Kings’ Alex Len, whose nation of Ukraine has been invaded by Russia. Len is one of two Ukrainian NBA players. – 10:07 PM

Dave Mason @DeuceMason
A moment of unity prior to Kings-Nuggets tonight in Sacramento. Kings big man Alex Len was born in Ukraine and has family in the country. pic.twitter.com/HD5p2cMDOY – 10:05 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Nuggets and Kings stand in solidarity with Alex Len and Ukraine for a moment of silence in pregame. pic.twitter.com/j5tTXEywoW – 10:05 PM

Michael Singer @msinger
Zeke Nnaji won’t be available tonight vs. SAC, I’m told. – 10:02 PM

Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Back on the hardwood 😄 pic.twitter.com/it38x7FAaT – 9:53 PM

Jake Madison @NOLAJake
I almost was to give credit to Perkins for walking into a lion’s den and sticking to his dumb takes despite getting eviscerated. Almost. It’s still a stupid thing to do. – 9:48 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Would expect a Bones, Bryn, Rivers, Davon, JaMychal bench lineup tonight. Gonna be an interesting group. A lot of pressure on Bones. – 9:42 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nuggets starters tonight in Sacramento
Monte Morris
Will Barton
Aaron Gordon
Jeff Green
Nikola Jokic – 9:42 PM

Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Back in action with these guys getting us started🍿 pic.twitter.com/fn1QVETEJs – 9:41 PM

Dave Mason @DeuceMason
Kings will start Fox, Holiday, Barnes, Harkless and Sabonis vs. Denver. – 9:34 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Zeke Nnaji (knee soreness) is out tonight in Sacramento. – 9:34 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Kings starters vs. Nuggets:
G – De’Aaron Fox
G – Justin Holiday
F – Harrison Barnes
F – Maurice Harkless
C – Domantas Sabonis – 9:34 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Starters for @Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets – 2/24:
G – De’Aaron Fox
G – Justin Holiday
F – Harrison Barnes
F – Maurice Harkless
C – Domantas Sabonis – 9:34 PM

Dave Mason @DeuceMason
No Richaun Holmes tonight. He’s out with back soreness. – 9:33 PM

Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Richaun Holmes (back soreness) will not play tonight vs Nuggets. – 9:31 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Updated Injury Report vs. Denver Nuggets – 2/24:
Richaun Holmes (back soreness) – OUT – 9:31 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Updated Injury Report vs. Denver Nuggets – 2/24:
Richaun Holmes (back soreness) – OUT – 9:31 PM

Dwain Price @DwainPrice
Starting with Friday’s pivotal game in Utah, the @Dallas Mavericks have 23 games remaining in the regular season. Three of those games are against the Jazz, and two are against the Warriors. But the Mavs and Kings have the fewest number of back-to-backs — two.
https://t.co/y8Md89vb2r pic.twitter.com/6iFCu1LsCP – 9:30 PM

Kristian Winfield @Krisplashed
Wow Kings star De’Aaron Fox rug-pulled people who bought his NFT collection. You really hate to see it. @TheTurtleBaron @TurtlesNFT – 9:27 PM

Sacramento Kings @SacramentoKings
Coach Gentry extends his thoughts and prayers to @Alex Len‘s family before his pregame media address. pic.twitter.com/Uv9y0QwPew – 9:03 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Michael Malone pregame in Sacramento (he was once the coach there for a short 1.5 seasons) says a lot of teams would have fired him after losing Game 82 in 2018 and missing the playoffs in his first three years in Denver: “I’m thrilled to work with an owner like Josh Kroenke.” – 8:59 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Michael Malone pregame in Sacramento (he was once the coach there for a short 1.5 seasons) says a lot of teams would have fired him after losing Game 82 and missing the playoffs in his first three years in Denver: “I’m thrilled to work with an owner like Josh Kroenke.” – 8:58 PM

Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Kings interim head coach Alvin Gentry with his opening comments supporting his center Alex Len and his team taking time to meet with their Ukrainian born center to show him support. pic.twitter.com/QpenchkNy0 – 8:42 PM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Michael Malone remained adamant in his pregame media that starting this stretch of games post-ASB is just as important as how they finished their pre-ASB schedule strongly.
Denver’s next six games:
@ SAC
SAC
@ POR
OKC
HOU
NOP – 8:39 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Alvin Gentry on the Alex Len situation and the Kings rallying around their big man. pic.twitter.com/Ksw87be7Dv – 8:34 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
NBA’s two Ukrainian players — Len, Mykhailiuk — condemn Russian invasion nba.nbcsports.com/2022/02/24/nba… – 8:33 PM

Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Alex Len told his Kings team that his family in Ukraine is safe right now, and as Alvin Gentry said, “that’s the most important thing right now.” – 8:31 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Alvin Gentry says Alex Len didn’t practice yesterday because he had food poisoning, on top of everything else he’s dealing with, but he is available tonight vs. the Nuggets. – 8:28 PM

Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Alex Len also had a bout of food poisoning as well as travel delays getting back from All-Star break. Says despite that and what’s weighing heavily on his mind with what’s happening in Ukraine, says he’s available to play tonight. – 8:26 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Davion Mitchell is fine according to Alvin Gentry. No minutes restriction at all. – 8:24 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
“Being from the Ukraine, he has family there, so I’d just like for you guys to keep him in your prayers and hopefully his family is going to remain safe. That’s very important and he’s very important to us, not just as a player but as a human being.” — Alvin Gentry on Alex Len – 8:23 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
According to Alvin Gentry, Trey Lyles will get some run tonight. Kings want to give him a look. – 8:21 PM

Jason Anderson @JandersonSacBee
Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry says he wants to try to get more of a look at Trey Lyles tonight vs. the Nuggets. – 8:21 PM

Sean Cunningham @SeanCunningham
Alvin Gentry says his Kings team met before the game for support of Alex Len and his family in Ukraine. – 8:20 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
“I know his family is safe right now and that’s the most important thing.” -Alvin Gentry on Alex Len – 8:19 PM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Purchasers of De’Aaron Fox’s NFT project are alleging that he defrauded them out of $1.6 million. I spoke to many of them to get to the bottom of a wild story:
sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/de… – 8:15 PM

Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
With all due respect, I don’t remember Trey Lyles making that alley-oop play.
That’s part of why they traded for Bagley … for that right there. – 8:06 PM

Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Want a chance to win this signed Nikola Jokić jersey, and more? Head to Rhein Haus TONIGHT for our official watch party as we take on the Kings! pic.twitter.com/OrcSyfd9vf – 7:35 PM

Kayte Christensen @kayte_c
TWO TICKETS up for grabs for tonight’s @Sacramento Kings vs Nuggets game! Who’s down for a night out?
Ready set go!!! – 7:26 PM

Katy Winge @katywinge
A #tbt for you, this time a #bts in a day in my life as a studio analyst when the Nuggets are on the road.
I also jumped in and did radio in between our shows so it was a full night that ended with a game winner. Check it out! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/k5BKycSCFZ – 7:03 PM

Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
From Alex Len on Instagram: pic.twitter.com/A7H6GzEP6j – 6:11 PM

Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Zeke Nnaji (bilateral knee soreness) is questionable tonight in Sacramento. – 5:26 PM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Kings center Alex Len and Raptors forward Svi Mykhailiuk are the two lone Ukrainian players in the NBA. Their statement below on theirInstagram pages in regards to Russia invading their native country pic.twitter.com/RHVkzk7EO8 – 5:23 PM

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Statement from the NBA’s two players from Ukraine, Sacramento’s Alex Len and Toronto’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk: pic.twitter.com/hhuhey4NWV – 5:18 PM

James Ham @James_HamNBA
Alex Len on the current situation in Ukraine. instagram.com/p/CaYF1o3PSoo/… – 5:18 PM

Alex Len @alexlen
НЕТ ВОЙНЕ #PrayForUkraine #StandWithUkraine @Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk pic.twitter.com/hGJG4fE8Ce – 5:17 PM