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Nuggets down Kings for 15th straight win

Mar 24, 2013 - 6:27 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Danilo Gallinari had a team-best 19 points with eight rebounds and the Denver Nuggets tied a franchise-record with their 15th consecutive win, a 101-95 decision over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Denver, which hasn't won 15 in a row since the 1969-70 season, was able to accomplish the feat despite missing starting guard Ty Lawson for the second straight game with a bruised heel.

Kenneth Faried came through with 17 points and nine boards, Andre Iguodala had 15 points with eight assists and Denver received 11 points apiece from Andre Miller and JaVale McGee in the team's 17th straight win at the Pepsi Center.

"I think the streak could be a problem now. Guys are getting a big head and too much complacency. We need to settle down, tighten our minds and grind it out," Faried said.

The Kings had a brief two-game winning streak snapped. DeMarcus Cousins scored a game-high 24 points and 15 rebounds, while John Salmons had 18 points in the setback.

Denver jumped out to the early advantage, but saw its 10-point lead at the break evaporate with 2:15 left in the third when Salmons canned his second triple of the quarter to put Sacramento ahead by one.

The Nuggets, though, fired back with a 12-5 push after starting the final frame behind 71-70, with Gallinari's three-point play staking Denver to an 82-76 edge just over three minutes in.

Thomas closed the gap to two, 87-85, on a 3-pointer with 5:19 to play, but Kosta Koufos answered with a pair of buckets before a Faried slam put the Nuggets back ahead by seven with just under four minutes to play.

The Kings got within three and had the ball with just over a minute left, but Cousins misfired on a short jumper and Miller added a three-point play at the other end to all but seal the win.

"Miller was Miller in Miller time," Kings head coach Keith Smart said.

Earlier, the Nuggets carried a 27-17 lead into the second quarter, where the margin expanded to 15 following the conclusion of an 8-0 run with 2:14 to play until halftime. Salmons connected on back-to-back shots in the last 30 seconds, with his triple bringing the Kings within 50-40 at the break.

Game Notes

The Nuggets were still a member of the ABA when they won 15 in a row during the 1969-70 campaign ... Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (shoulder) also missed a second straight game ... Denver outrebounded Sacramento, 46-36.