The Denver Nuggets (17-6) welcome the floundering Sacramento Kings (6-18) to Ball Arena in a Northwest Division mismatch that could serve as a tune-up for the Nuggets’ title defense aspirations. With Denver on a three-game win streak and boasting the NBA’s top-rated offense (122.4 PPG), they face a Kings squad that’s lost nine of its last 11, plagued by defensive lapses (120.1 PPG allowed, 28th) and backcourt injuries. Nikola Jokić’s triple-double prowess will test Sacramento’s thin frontcourt, while the Kings hope De’Aaron Fox’s speed creates transition chaos. This high-altitude affair projects as a Nuggets rout, but Sacramento’s desperation could spark an early upset bid before Denver’s depth takes over.
Venue Location
Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado (capacity: 17,732). The Nuggets are 9-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents by 14.2 PPG in Denver, and have covered the spread in eight of their last 10 home games against Pacific Division foes.
Tipoff: 9:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast on Altitude TV (Nuggets) and NBCSCA (Kings), with national coverage on NBA TV and streaming via NBA League Pass.
Injury Report
Denver enters with a clean bill of health for its core, allowing their stars to feast, while Sacramento’s injury bug continues to bite, particularly in the guard and wing rotations. Latest updates from Wednesday’s practices and team announcements:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Nuggets | Jamal Murray | G | Available | None | Full practice; 21.3 PPG, 6.4 APG. Recent ankle tweak cleared. |
| Nuggets | Aaron Gordon | F | Available | None | Ready; 14.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG. No limitations after minor shoulder soreness. |
| Nuggets | Nikola Jokić | C | Available | None | Cleared; MVP frontrunner at 29.2 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 9.3 APG. |
| Nuggets | Michael Porter Jr. | F | Available | None | Full go; 18.7 PPG, 42.3% 3PT. Back from brief knee maintenance. |
| Kings | DeMar DeRozan | F | Out | Calf (Strain) | Missed last six games; 23.5 PPG pre-injury. Keon Ellis steps up. |
| Kings | Kevin Huerter | G | Out | Achilles (Tendonitis) | IR since Week 8; 12.4 PPG, 37.8% 3PT. Major spacing loss. |
| Kings | Jake LaRavia | F | Questionable | Hamstring | Limited practice; day-to-day, 9.2 PPG off bench in recent spots. |
| Kings | De’Aaron Fox | G | Available | None | Cleared; 25.8 PPG, 5.9 APG despite heavy minutes (36.4 MPG). |
| Kings | Domantas Sabonis | C | Available | None | Full practice; 19.4 PPG, 13.2 RPG. Double-double machine. |
| Kings | Keegan Murray | F | Available | None | Ready; 15.6 PPG, but 31.2% 3PT lately. |
Sacramento’s perimeter shooting craters without Huerter and DeRozan (combined 5.8 3PM/game), forcing Fox and Sabonis into isolation-heavy sets against Denver’s elite help defense.
Player Matchups
These star vs. star (or star vs. committee) battles will highlight Denver’s size advantage over Sacramento’s speed:
Nuggets C Nikola Jokić vs. Kings C Domantas Sabonis
Jokić (29.2 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 9.3 APG; 58.4% FG) faces his Lithuanian counterpart in Sabonis (19.4 PPG, 13.2 RPG), who’s elite on the glass but turnover-prone (3.8 per game). Jokić has outscored and out-assisted Sabonis in five straight meetings (average +8.2 efficiency). If Jokić posts 30-15-10, it’s game over early.
Kings G De’Aaron Fox vs. Nuggets G Jamal Murray
Fox (25.8 PPG, 5.9 APG; 47.2% FG) relies on blow-by drives, but Murray (21.3 PPG) and Denver’s backcourt switches (1.7 SPG combined) limit him to 20.4 PPG vs. top-10 defenses. Fox’s transition edge (14.2 fast-break PPG) tests Murray’s recovery speed.
Nuggets F Michael Porter Jr. vs. Kings F Keegan Murray
Porter Jr. (18.7 PPG, 42.3% 3PT) exploits mismatches from deep, drawing Keegan Murray’s length (15.6 PPG, 1.2 SPG). Keegan’s held forwards under 16 points in three of five, but Porter’s catch-and-shoot (2.8 3PM/game) stretches Sacramento’s rotations thin.
Kings F DeMar DeRozan (Out) Impact vs. Nuggets F Aaron Gordon
Without DeRozan, Sacramento leans on bench scoring, but Gordon (14.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG) clamps mid-range pull-ups (opponents 39.8% vs. him). Gordon’s versatility shines in Denver’s small-ball lineups.
Nuggets G Russell Westbrook vs. Kings Bench
Westbrook (11.4 PPG, 5.2 APG off bench) torments Sacramento’s reserves (29.1 bench PPG, 25th), averaging 14.6 in last three vs. Kings. His energy disrupts Fox’s rhythm.
Denver’s interior dominance (52.1% opponent FG at rim) overwhelms Sacramento’s perimeter focus.
Team Records
Denver Nuggets: 17-6 (1st in Western Conference)
9-2 at home, averaging 122.4 PPG (1st) while allowing 109.8 (4th). Dominant rebounding (+6.4 margin) and assists (29.1 per game, 1st), with a +12.6 net rating. 12-11 ATS.
Sacramento Kings: 6-18 (13th in Western Conference)
3-9 on the road, averaging 114.2 PPG (16th) and allowing 120.1 (28th). Fast-paced (3rd in tempo) but poor defensively (118.7 rating), 7-17 ATS overall.
Denver holds the season series tiebreaker (1-0 after a 128-115 win on Nov. 15).
Recent Team Forms
The Nuggets are locked in with three straight wins, averaging 125.3 PPG during the streak. Sacramento, meanwhile, has dropped seven of eight, scoring just 110.4 PPG in losses amid shooting slumps.
| Nuggets Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. LAL | Dec 6 | Home | W 124-112 | Jokić 32 PTS, 14 REB, 11 AST; 51.3% FG, 15 3s made. |
| @ POR | Dec 4 | Away | W 118-112 | Murray 28 PTS, 7 AST; Hold off late rally with 48 REB. |
| vs. OKC | Dec 2 | Home | W 132-118 | Porter Jr. 26 PTS, 5 3s; Fast-break feast (28 pts). |
| @ MIN | Nov 29 | Away | L 105-118 | Jokić 28 PTS, 12 REB; Defense allows 55% FG. |
| vs. UTA | Nov 27 | Home | W 121-109 | Gordon 22 PTS, 8 REB; Balanced attack, 30 AST. |
Form Notes: 4-1, outscored foes 120-114. Home dominance (3-0, +18.7 margin); Jokić’s usage at 34.2 MPG.
| Kings Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| @ GSW | Dec 7 | Away | L 109-118 | Fox 27 PTS, 6 AST; 43.2% FG, outrebounded 45-38. |
| vs. MEM | Dec 5 | Home | L 115-122 | Sabonis 20 PTS, 14 REB; Bench outscored 68-42. |
| @ LAC | Dec 3 | Away | L 112-125 | Fox 24 PTS; 3rd quarter collapse (38-22). |
| vs. DAL | Dec 1 | Home | W 118-114 | Sabonis 22 PTS, 15 REB; Clutch win, force 17 TOs. |
| @ PHX | Nov 29 | Away | L 107-119 | Murray 18 PTS; Shooting 38.1% from three. |
Form Notes: 1-4, outscored 111-120. Road futility (0-3, -11.3 margin); turnovers spike to 16.2 per loss.
Series History
All-time, Denver leads 98-84 in 182 meetings, with the Nuggets winning seven of the last 10 (average score: 118.6-112.4, 231 total points). Sacramento took a 114-109 upset on Mar. 22, 2024, but Denver’s 128-115 victory on Nov. 15, 2025, flipped momentum. In Denver, the Nuggets are 6-2 over the last eight home games vs. Sacramento, covering in five. Overs have hit in 7 of 10 (average 230.2 points), fueled by altitude-aided scoring. This is the second of three meetings this season.
Betting Trends
Spread: 74% of bets/81% of handle on Nuggets -12.5 (public hammering home fave). Denver 8-3 ATS last 11 home; Kings 2-12 ATS as road dogs of 10+.
Total: 61% bets on Over 230.5 (86% handle), as 9 of 10 series games topped 225 and Nuggets home games average 235.4 combined. Under in 6 of Sacramento’s last 9 road tilts.
Moneyline: 82% bets on Nuggets, but Kings +600 for upset value (1-9 SU as +500 dogs). Denver 15-1 SU as home favorites.
Key Trends: Nuggets 7-1 ATS in last eight vs. Pacific; Kings 0-6 SU in last six at Denver. Sharps balancing line with under action.
Game Odds
Denver Nuggets – 10..5
Sacramento Kings 239.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025
