Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings Picks and Predictions March 5th 2025

Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings March 5th 2025

At 9:00 ET, the Sacramento Kings will travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets. The Kings (+200) are currently on a four-game win streak and have a record of 32-28. They are 8th in the Western Conference and 3rd in the Pacific Division. The Nuggets (-240) are 39-22 and are favored by 6 points. They are 3rd in the West and 2nd in the Northwest Division.

This game will be played at the Ball Arena and can be seen on NBCS. The over/under line is currently set at 236.5.

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Kings vs. Nuggets Key Information

The Kings improved to 32-28 on the season with a 122-98 road win over the Mavericks on Monday. Sacramento, favored by 2 points, covered the spread with a dominant +24 point margin. The game’s total score of 220 points fell short of the 231.5-point O/U line.

A key 16-0 run helped the Kings take control, turning a 65-54 deficit into a 70-65 lead. Sacramento then held Dallas to just 16 points in the 3rd quarter, building a 94-66 lead heading into the 4th, where they were outscored 32-28.

The Kings shot 52.2% from the field and hit 16 threes at a 47.1% clip in their 122-98 win over the Mavericks. Zach LaVine led the way with 22 points, knocking down 4 threes at 80% shooting from deep, while DeMar DeRozan added 20 points.

Keegan Murray contributed 18 points and 5 rebounds, also hitting 4 threes. LaVine scored 12 points in the 2nd quarter, and Malik Monk added 7 of his 13 points in the 3rd.

The Kings put together a strong defensive performance, holding the Mavericks to just 98 points. Sacramento gave up 24 points in the 1st quarter and 26 in the 2nd, but their best effort came in the 3rd, where they allowed only 16 points. The Mavericks scored 32 in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Kings’ defense.

From beyond the arc, the Kings were particularly effective, limiting Dallas to just 7 made threes on 26% shooting. Sacramento also controlled the boards, giving up only 7 offensive rebounds. They finished the game with 4 steals and 4 blocks.

Denver’s record dropped to 39-22 after a 110-103 road loss to the Celtics on Sunday. The Nuggets entered the game as +5.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points of 213 fell well short of the 236.5 O/U line.

Denver fell behind early, trailing 32-20 after the 1st quarter. They made a push in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Boston 29-22, but the Celtics responded with a 10-0 run, extending their lead from 82-70 to 92-70. Denver couldn’t close the gap, as Boston edged them 27-26 in the 4th quarter.

In their 110-103 loss to the Celtics, the Nuggets shot 47.7% from the field and made 12 threes at a 34.3% clip. Jamal Murray led the way with 26 points, adding 7 assists and 6 rebounds, while Christian Braun contributed 24 points and 6 boards.

Nikola Jokić added 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists, hitting 2 threes at 66.7%. Murray scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, while Braun had 11 in the 2nd.

Defensively, the Nuggets gave up 110 points to the Celtics, including 32 in the 1st quarter. They tightened up in the 3rd, allowing just 22 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Denver allowed Boston to shoot 47% from the field and 41% from three, with the Celtics hitting 14 threes. The Nuggets sent Boston to the line 27 times, where they made 22 free throws. Denver finished with 11 steals and 2 blocks.

Coming in as the underdogs at +6, we have the Kings as the way to go on the point spread. Not only do we have them covering, but our projections show they have a good one of winning this one straight-up, if you’re looking for a higher payout on the moneyline.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 236.5 and given that our model is projecting 247 points between the teams, we like the over.

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Zach LaVine, Kings Aim to Gain Ground in West vs. Nuggets

The Sacramento Kings have not let the loss of All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis slow them down, winning two straight without their star big man. Now, they look to complete a perfect four-game road trip when they visit the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Kings Thriving Despite Sabonis’ Absence

Sabonis, who leads the NBA in rebounding at 14.1 boards per game, suffered a hamstring injury just minutes into Sacramento’s win over Houston on Saturday. Despite his absence, the Kings have remained resilient, following up that victory with a dominant 122-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.

Sacramento currently sits in the eighth seed in the Western Conference but is just half a game behind the sixth-place Golden State Warriors. With Sabonis expected to miss at least another week, the Kings have leaned on DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Zach LaVine to keep their momentum going.

LaVine, who arrived in a trade a month ago, has started to find his rhythm with Sacramento. His breakout performance came against Charlotte, where he exploded for 42 points to kickstart the Kings’ four-game win streak.

“I was just waiting,” DeRozan said of LaVine’s recent surge. “It took long enough. I kept telling him the whole game, ‘Just shoot it,’ and that’s the outcome. … It’s nothing new for me.”

LaVine is averaging 22.5 points in 11 games with Sacramento, slightly down from his 24 per game with the Bulls. DeRozan contributes 21.9 ppg, while Sabonis was averaging 19.5 before his injury.

Nuggets Rely on Jokic to Stay in the Race

Without Sabonis, the Kings will have their hands full against Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP is putting up elite numbers, ranking third in the NBA in scoring (28.9 ppg) and rebounding (12.7 rpg) while sitting second in assists (10.4 apg). He also leads the league with 28 triple-doubles.

Jokic’s brilliance has kept Denver in the hunt for a top seed in the West, but the Nuggets have cooled off lately, dropping three of their last five following a nine-game winning streak.

Their most recent loss came against Boston on Sunday, where they played without Aaron Gordon, who is nursing an ankle injury. Gordon is questionable for Wednesday, while rookie Julian Strawther will miss four weeks with a sprained knee.

If Gordon remains out, coach Michael Malone may turn to either Russell Westbrook or Zeke Nnaji to fill the starting lineup. Westbrook has started 28 games this season and is averaging 12.7 points per contest.

Jamal Murray (21.4 ppg), Michael Porter Jr. (18.5 ppg), and Christian Braun (15.1 ppg) continue to provide scoring depth. Murray has been a key factor in Denver’s recent success, averaging 24.7 points in February, including a 55-point explosion against Portland.

“You’ve got to almost take it as a sign of disrespect,” Malone said of teams targeting Murray on defense, “and do whatever you can to stop that in its tracks.”

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