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Faried lifts Nuggets over Kings

Apr 13, 2015 - 1:11 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Kenneth Faried poured in 30 points on 12- of-14 shooting as the Denver Nuggets downed the Sacramento Kings 122-111 in their home finale at Pepsi Center.

The Nuggets uncharacteristically finished below .500 (19-22) at home this season but ended on a positive note by hitting 55.6 percent of their shots.

"To have the fans there and their support...it was nice," Faried said.

Wilson Chandler added 21 points and nine rebounds, and Ty Lawson posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists for the victors.

Omri Casspi totaled 22 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Kings, who have dropped eight of nine overall and their last six on the road.

The Kings announced before the game they will hold out All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay the rest of the season. Cousins is dealing with a right ankle injury, and Gay is still experiencing concussion-like symptoms.

Faried erupted for 19 points in the first quarter as the Nuggets jumped out to a 37-28 lead. The Kings briefly went ahead in the second thanks to shooting 65.0 percent (13-of-20) from the field, but they still trailed 60-59 at the break.

Sacramento suddenly went cold in the third, making just two field goals over the first 6 1/2 minutes, and the Nuggets took advantage with a 22-9 run.

"They took a big lead on us and we couldn't come back," Casspi said.

It was a 94-84 game entering the fourth, and the margin never dipped below eight over the final 12 minutes.

Game Notes

Sacramento's George Karl coached the Nuggets from 2005-2013, leading the team to nine playoff appearances. He won Coach of the Year for the 2012-13 season, but was fired during that summer ... Ben McLemore scored 20 points for the Kings, who finish the season with a home-and-home series against the Lakers.