On March 5, 2025, the Denver Nuggets secured a much-needed victory over the Sacramento Kings with a score of 116-110, marking their 40th win of the season. This victory solidified their position as serious playoff contenders with a 40-22 record.
Russell Westbrook led the way for the Nuggets, scoring 25 points, grabbing five rebounds, and dishing out three assists over 35 minutes. His performance was pivotal, showcasing his role as both leader and revitalized player after struggling with the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. Westbrook’s contributions extended beyond his scoring ability; he was instrumental during crunch time, hitting key shots, including four three-pointers with 50% shooting from the field.
Westbrook’s ambition doesn’t stop at contributing to the team’s success. He is also chasing records, currently sitting second all-time among point guards with 25,921 career regular season points, just shy of Oscar Robertson’s 26,710 points. He also stands second to Stephen Curry for total points scored in regular season and playoffs combined, with 28,804 points to Curry's 28,911 points. His solid performance is raising his profile as he continues to play for titles.
Jamal Murray was another standout, contributing 24 points to the Nuggets' tally, helping the team to maintain its competitiveness. Denver’s other starters also stepped up, each scoring in double figures, highlighting their collective effort and strong chemistry on the court.
Despite trailing at points during the match, most significantly when the Kings held the lead at 93-84 heading to the fourth quarter, the Nuggets refused to back down. They made notable adjustments and turned the momentum around with strong defensive plays and sharp shooting. A key moment came when Zeke Nnaji’s three-pointer moved the Nuggets back ahead 96-95, marking their first lead since early in the game.
Westbrook gave credit to his teammate Nikola Jokic after their hard-fought victory, stating, "The best player in the world is Nikola Jokic. I'll turn the ball over 20 times trying to get it to him." His words paint Jokic not only as the cornerstone of the Nuggets’ franchise but also as the standard of excellence. Jokic himself contributed 22 points and 14 rebounds, reinforcing his case for the MVP award amid fierce competition.
On the other hand, the Kings’ DeMar DeRozan put forth an impressive performance, scoring 35 points, with 18 of those coming during the third quarter alone. He found success attacking the basket and creating scoring opportunities, proving to be a thorn in Denver’s side. His reliance on getting to the free-throw line helped keep pressure on the Nuggets' defense.
Despite the heart of the game swinging back and forth, the Nuggets finished strong, reinforcing their resolve by outscoring Sacramento 12-2 at the start of the fourth quarter—an unprecedented strategy for them during non-Jokic minutes.
With this win, the Nuggets hope to carry their momentum forward as they prepare to play the Oklahoma City Thunder, where they will again rely on Jokic to make his MVP case against rising star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This matchup promises to be significant, raising anticipation for what could be another classic battle on the hardwood.
With aspirations of advancing through the playoffs, the Nuggets will be focusing on maintaining their sharp performance and synergy, aiming to leverage Westbrook’s experience and Jokic’s talismanic presence as they push toward the championship. Their next game is against the Phoenix Suns, providing another opportunity to solidify their playoff positioning.