Fox sizzles but Jokic keeps building case for second MVP award in Nuggets’ win over Kings
De’Aaron Fox continued to take his game to another level against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday evening, but no one in the NBA is playing at a higher level than Nikola Jokic.
The reigning MVP put up 38 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Nuggets to a 106-100 victory over the Kings at Golden 1 Center. Jokic has been an unstoppable force all season, but he has been exceptionally good since returning from a brief illness, averaging 38.7 points, 15.0 rebounds and 10.3 assists over the past three games.
Jokic made 15 of 24 from the field and converted eight of nine free-throw attempts. Interim Kings coach Alvin Gentry could only shake his head in awe after the game.
“We did as much as you possibly can, but I’m telling you, that guy is just a different beast, man,” Gentry said. “… That guy is the MVP.”
Monte Morris added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting for the Nuggets (40-26), who have won four in a row and 10 of 11 to move into a tie for fifth in the Western Conference. Aaron Gordon and Bryn Forbes had 11 points apiece. DeMarcus Cousins, who spent his first seven seasons with the Kings, received a nice ovation when he checked in for the first time, but had a rough night while battling foul trouble. He finished with five points, six rebounds and six turnovers in 12 minutes.
Fox finished with 32 points and 10 assists for the Kings (24-44), who have lost three in a row and eight of 10. Fox made 12 of 23 from the field, 4 of 6 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 at the free-throw line, continuing his recent hot streak. Over the past 13 games, the 24-year-old point guard has averaged 28.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 51.8% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc.
“I’m just playing basketball,” Fox said. “Shots are going in. I’m shooting a higher percentage from most parts of the floor. That’s just coming with, I continue to work and continue to play, and throughout the season it’s gotten better.”
Harrison Barnes had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Kings. Trey Lyles had 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Kings trailed 32-29 at the end of the first quarter. They cut the deficit to one on a three-point play by Justin Holiday early in the second, but the Nuggets responded with a 13-0 run to open up a 47-33 lead. Denver went up by as many as 18 following a 3-pointer by Morris with 1:57 to play in the first half and carried a 12-point lead into the break.
Sacramento staged a 13-4 run to get within three on a basket by Fox with 4:47 left in the third quarter. The Kings took a 90-89 lead on a 3-pointer by Davion Mitchell with 6:04 to play in the fourth, but three-point plays by Jokic and Morris put the Nuggets up 102-95 with 1:28 to go.
Sacramento started Alex Len at center with Domantas Sabonis and Richaun Holmes both unavailable. Sabonis was serving a one-game suspension for making contact with an official in Monday’s loss to the New York Knicks. Holmes, who has appeared in only one game since the All-Star break, was held out for the second game in a row due to personal reasons.
Len, a native of Ukraine, logged only 10 minutes, finishing with four points and two rebounds while picking up four fouls as the Russian invasion of his homeland intensified.
“First of all, he’s a tremendous human being, and if you know anything about Alex, he’s all about the team,” Gentry said. “With everything that’s going on in his country right now, to me it would be very difficult to really concentrate on anything but what’s going on over there, especially when you see some of the video and the pictures coming out of there.
“I commend him for just focusing in and being able to play. I thought he did a good job for us tonight. … I thought he did a good job tonight in the minutes that we used him, but you have to know that it’s really, really tough for him right now with everything that’s going on over there.”
Damian Jones came off the bench behind Len to post eight points, seven rebounds and four steals in 37 minutes. Jones was asked about the challenges Jokic presents.
“It’s tough, man,” Jones said. “He’s super skilled, so it’s going to be a battle every time you play him.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2022 at 12:52 AM.
