Sacramento Kings vs. Denver Nuggets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/26/2022

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to watch: ALT2, NBCSCA

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Kings: 22-39

Nuggets: 34-25

Remember in the old days when the Sacramento Kings made a trade with the Indiana Pacers, and we laughed hysterically at that trade but Sacramento supporters were so adamant to think that that move was going to pave the way for a possible playoff run?

Yeah about that, that ain't happening for the kings. Three straight losses for Sacramento including one on Thursday by the tune of 18 points against the Denver Nuggets at home, and suddenly in a shocking turn of events with all the sarcasm in the world, the kings find themselves reeling ever so quickly.

With Sacramento and Denver opening the All-Star break with a home and home, the kings really cannot afford to drop so many games in this capacity. I mean, let's be real. Domantas Sabonis is a tremendous player, an All-Star talent, and one of the best young players in the game. But I think where Sacramento messed up the most is that when you're acquiring an All-Star level player, you need to supply him with guys that can play well with him. Not put him on an island and expect him to figure everything out by himself.

Now I'm not saying that's a knock on DeAaron Fox Because we know how talented he is. But when you get rid of Tyrese Halliburton and you get rid of buddy hield, two important players that would have helped to build around Sabonis, you're not really helping him out.

That's why it is imperative on so many levels for the kings to go out this summer and get another player to help complement their two stars. Because I cannot imagine how horrendous it would be for that franchise if in a couple of years' time Sabonis and Fox found their ways out of Sacramento. This is a crucial and important time for the kings, who are not going to make the playoffs this year unless they go on a giant run of all runs.

And unless Sacramento gets it together and figures out how to maximize their two young players, this is gonna be a very rough final 21 games.

So we're all in agreement that Nikola Jokic is probably winning his second straight MVP right? I mean I can understand if you're not ready to commit to that yet, or even if you're ready to commit to any other player right now, but the way the Denver Nuggets have played this season without Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray, the fact that Jokic is playing like he is the eater of worlds right now is really something to watch.

Jokic had 25 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists in Denver’s victory over Sacramento on Thursday. Funny enough, he wasn't even the leading scorer on his own team. Will Barton had a game-high 31 points on 11 of 17 shooting, reminding us all that Will Barton can still put the ball in the hoop.

The Nuggets are still looking up at the majority of the Western Conference standings at least through the first six scenes. You have the Dallas Mavericks, the Utah Jazz, the Phoenix Suns, the Golden State Warriors, just to name a couple. There's so many teams that are going to present so many difficult matchups for Denver that, it will help to have Murray and Porter back in the fold but if they do come back this season, are they going to be enough during a playoff run?

And that's kind of where I'm on the fence about with the Nuggets for as good as Jokic has been this season, and really the last two seasons, I just don't know how to feel about Denver as a whole period there is a lot of talent, good coaching, solid depth on the bench, but I want to like Denver for so much more than just a couple of playoff exits after the second round.

This is where I look at a guy like Aaron Gordon to take that next step and prove that he can be a valuable contributor on a playoff team. And to his credit, Gordon has added layers to his game, like a consistent outside jump shot and more put the ball on the floor and attack game, rather than just flying high and throwing down dunks.

At the end of the day it is going to come down to Jokic and how he carries this team for the rest of the season, but I just don't know if you should put so much stock into Denver just yet. But man, the Nuggets are so fun to watch.

It's one thing to lose the first game that a home and home and then come back and win, which is normally what I would do if the team entering this game lost the previous one. But I do not trust Sacramento going into the altitude of Denver and trying to get a win here. I think we saw from the previous game that if Sacramento cannot get contributions from anyone outside of its two stars it is going to be a very long day for the kings. So I will take Denver going away in a dominant fashion. Nuggets by 20

The Kings are 4-12 following two straight games of making 50 percent of shots or better.

The Nuggets are 0-6 ATS after four straight games of outrebounding the opponent by 5 or more.

PG: De'Aaron Fox

SG: Justin Holiday

SF: Harrison Barnes

PF: Mo Harkless

C: Domantas Sabonis

PG: Monte Morris

SG: Will Barton

SF: Aaron Gordon

PF: Jeff Green

C: Nikola Jokic

Kings: Richaun Holmes (day-to-day)

Nuggets: Jamal Murray (out), Michael Porter Jr. (out), DeMarcus Cousins (day-to-day)

Points: De'Aaron Fox -- 21.7

Rebounds: Harrison Barnes -- 6.1

Assists: De'Aaron Fox -- 5.1

Points: Nikola Jokic -- 26.0

Rebounds: Nikola Jokic -- 13.8

Assists: Nikola Jokic -- 7.9