SACRAMENTO, Calif. — David Adelman’s father roamed the sidelines of Sacramento in the early 2000s. In an awkward situation this week, it was at least poetic that Adelman’s opportunity as the Nuggets’ interim head coach began with a game at the Kings.
Denver snapped a four-game losing streak with a 124-116 victory at Sacramento in the team’s first game since firing head coach Michael Malone.
The Nuggets (48-32) entered Wednesday night in a remarkable four-way tie for fourth place in the Western Conference. One of their adversaries, Golden State, lost at the buzzer to San Antonio to give Denver an edge in the standings. The Clippers were still in progress when Denver’s game ended. The third-place Lakers won in Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas to protect a one-game lead with two to go.
Christian Braun was Denver’s leading scorer with 25 points. Nikola Jokic went for his 33rd triple-double of the season, amassing 20 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals and at least one play design on the whiteboard. He was animated in huddles, directing teammates individually and collectively.
The previous coaching regime ended with Jalen Pickett starting for the injured Jamal Murray, and Adelman continued to give the 25-year-old point guard reps in the starting lineup. Pickett went for 18 points and four assists in a 5-for-7 night beyond the arc. He single-handedly went on a 9-2 run during the third quarter, causing his teammates to mob him on the bench after a Sacramento timeout.
Pickett even hit a dagger 3 with 1:14 left as part of the closing unit in the fourth quarter.
The Kings were led by 27 points and 11 assists from trade deadline acquisition Zach LaVine. They went on an 11-2 run in the fourth quarter and twice pulled within four points, but both times, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. answered with timely 3-pointers to extend the lead. Both forwards scored 21 points.
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