Kings-Nuggets: Sacramento Survives Melo's 32-Point Barrage

Tonight the Sacramento Kings defeated the visiting Denver Nuggets 114-106.

The Kings used a 35-point outburst in the first quarter to control the game. They held tight the rest of the way for the win.

The Kings had several outstanding performances tonight.

Kevin Martin came up huge with 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

Andres Nocioni got his first start with the Kings and had 23 points.

Francisco Garcia, playing with a broken finger, had 19 points off the bench and played solid defense on Chauncey Billups down the stretch.

Center Spencer Hawes had a career high 20 points to go with eight rebounds.

The Nuggets were led by Carmelo Anthony's 32 points and Billups' 22 points and eight assists.

The Kings came out hot in the first quarter.

Nocioni and Hawes made quick three-point shots to start and the Kings led 9-0 and 13-2. They lead 35-25 at the end of one quarter.

The second quarter saw Carmelo Anthony help the Nuggets hold tight and trailed 61-49.

At the end of three quarters the Nuggets continued to play even with the Kings and still trailed by 10, 85-75.

In the fourth quarter the Kings went with a smaller, quicker lineup with only one big man on the floor. The plan worked and the Kings came up with key stops down the stretch, while the Nuggets had no answer for Martin and Nocioni.

A jumper from Garcia with 38 seconds remaining sealed the deal.

The Kings will next host Oklahoma City on Tuesday.