NUGGETS BREAK AWAY FOR WIN

NUGGETS 114, KINGS 98

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.» The Nuggets had struggled all night to turn mini-runs into extended runs.

Then two 3-pointers from Trey Lyles went splash late in the third quarter. Ditto for Will Barton. And suddenly, the Nuggets led by double digits.

Denver pulled away from the Kings 114-98 Monday night at Golden 1 Center in a game in which the Nuggets were missing coach Michael Malone because of a one-game suspension and starters Paul Millsap and Wilson Chandler due to injury.

“Kudos to those guys in the locker room,” said assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., who assumed the headcoaching duties. “From the minute they got in here off the bus, they knew what was the task at hand. They knew that we were under adverse circumstances and we had no other option but to come together.”

The Nuggets created the necessary distance with a 19-9 run late in the third quarter, highlighted by those two 3-pointers apiece from Barton and Lyles. By the fourth quar- ter’s final minutes, Denver’s lead had stretched to 20 when Jamal Murray emphatically finished an alley-oop pass from Nikola Jokic and sank two free throws on the next possession.

Without Millsap and Chandler, Kenneth Faried (six points, seven rebounds) and Barton (game-high 25 points, six rebounds, five assists) moved into the starting five. That led to interesting lineup groups throughout the night, contributing to a sometimes-clunky offensive showing that found rhythm late. The Nuggets shot 48.8 percent, committed 14 turnovers that led to 17 Kings points and mishandled several passes.

Jokic totaled a doubledouble with 16 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. Gary Harris scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Murray added 18 points. Juan Hernangomez added 11 points off the bench.

Denver followed a disastrous night in Los Angeles with a victory over one of the West’s worst teams. It was the Nuggets’ first victory on the second night of a back-to-back set this season. And it came without their head coach and two starters.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys and how they took this situation, turned it around and made the best of it,” Unseld said.