The Denver Nuggets got overtaken by the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference but they have a chance to recapture it again with a win this Thursday versus the surging Sacramento Kings. The Kings are missing Domantas Sabonis, but they are riding a wave of momentum heading into this big clash in Mile High City.
Catch this game live on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Sacramento Kings (32-28, 17-14 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Malik Monk (Questionable)
- Zach LaVine
- DeMar DeRozan
- Keegan Murray
- Jonas Valanciunas
Losing Domantas Sabonis to injury definitely isn’t great news for the Kings, but they will look to sustain their momentum in this meeting with Denver. The Kings have won all of their last four games, including last Tuesday’s 122-98 drubbing of the Dallas Mavericks on the road. The duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan took turns in lighting up the Mavs, with 22 and 20 points, respectively, while combining for 16-for-27 shooting from the field. LaVine has been playing at a high level of late.
He has averaged 26.5 points while shooting at an incredibly high clip over the last four games, during which he shot 63.1 FG% and 66.7 3FG%. At one point, LaVine will cool off, but his presence alone should open things up for DeRozan and vice versa. The Kings may have to play Denver without Malik Monk, as the former Kentuck Wildcats high-flyer is questionable with a right toe sprain.
The Kings are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games, with the total hitting the Under in all of those contests. Moreover, Sacramento is 5-5 ATS in its last 10 trips to Mile High City.
Home: Denver Nuggets (39-22, 20-9 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jamal Murray
- Christian Braun
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Aaron Gordon (Questionable)
- Nikola Jokic (Questionable)
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic must be salivating over this upcoming matchup versus the Kings. Without Sabonis on the other side, Jokic should be able to dominate Sacramento even more.
The Nuggets are 2-0 straight up this season against the Kings, and in those contests, the Serbian big man averaged 27.5 points on 52.6 FG%, 18.0 rebounds and 15.0 assists. That being said, there is a possibility that Jokic will miss this matchup opposite Sacramento. Jokic and Aaron Gordon are both listed as questionable with ankle issues. If the Nuggets roll without Jokic, Jamal Murray can be expected to carry the offense along with Michael Porter Jr. Sacramento’s faulty defense can still be taken advantage of by the Nuggets, even without their best player.
The Nuggets have covered the spread in seven of their last 10 outings at home, with the total hitting the Over seven times in those contests. Denver is also 3-1 ATS in its last four home games against the Kings.
Picks
Spread: Denver Nuggets (-6.5)
Over/Under: Over (237.0)
