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Nuggets cruise to win over Kings

Jan 5, 2012 - 6:10 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Al Harrington was one of five players in double- figures with 15 points and five rebounds as the Denver Nuggets thrashed the Sacramento Kings, 110-83, at Pepsi Center.

Rudy Fernandez finished with 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Timofey Mozgov and Arron Afflalo netted 11 points apiece for the Nuggets, who have won three straight games. Kosta Koufos was the final Nuggets' player in double-figures with 10 points to go with 11 rebounds.

"Four quarters of us running up and down is definitely going to wear opponents down," Harrington said of his team's run-and-gun style. "So that's what we're going to do."

DeMarcus Cousins scored a game-high 26 points, while Marcus Thornton ended with 23 points for the Kings, who dropped to 2-5 on the young season.

The game remained close through the first five minutes of the opening quarter, but the Nuggets began to pull away with a quick 8-0 run to lead 17-10 with 4 1/2 minutes left.

A pair of free throws by Thornton cut the deficit to 17-14, but Denver responded with 10 consecutive points to push the lead to 27-14. Denver led by 10 after one quarter of play.

Denver opened the second quarter by scoring 12 consecutive points to take a comfortable 39-17 margin with 7:34 to play before halftime.

A jumper by Tyreke Evans finally snapped the run to make it 39-19, but Denver breezed through the rest of the quarter, shooting 68 percent (13-of-19) in the frame, to lead 56-39 at halftime.

Denver continued its hot shooting in the third quarter, reeling off the first nine points of the frame to go up, 64-39, just under three minutes in.

Sacramento got the deficit down to 14 with 4:40 left, but then the Nuggets ran off another 10 consecutive points to lead 81-57 with 1:49 left in the quarter. They led 85-64 after three quarters.

The Nuggets rolled through the final quarter to the easy win.

"There's no doubt that that was a kick in our teeth, you can't hide from it" Kings head coach Paul Westphal said. "I still believe we have the makings of a good basketball team and I believe we will bounce back."

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Sacramento leads the all-time series between the teams, 79-76...Nuggets center Nene did not play due to a left heel strain...Denver shot an incredible 60.5 percent (46-of-76) from the floor, while Sacramento shot only 32.3 percent...The Nuggets outrebounded Sacramento, 50-36...Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson and Andre Miller all finished with eight points for the Nuggets...Kings guard Jimmer Fredette ended with seven points...Denver dominated inside, scoring 68 points in the paint to only 42 for the Kings.