Half of Denver’s roster could be in the infirmary yet as long as No. 15 was healthy, the Nuggets would have a chance.
Behind another 40-point effort, Nikola Jokic almost dragged his beleaguered team to another victory.
Instead, the absences of Aaron Gordon (shoulder), Jamal Murray (knee maintenance), Bruce Brown (ankle) and Jeff Green (hand) were too costly in a gripping 127-126 loss to the Kings. What was once a 19-point, second-half Denver lead fizzled under Sacramento’s pressure, and the Nuggets’ winning streak was snapped at five.
