Sacramento @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 6, 2018 ) Denver 98, Sacramento 106

The Denver Nuggets are fighting for postseason position in the Western Conference and are getting a little feisty at the end of games, especially guard Jamal Murray. Murray and company will try to keep their emotions in check and earn a fourth win in six games when they host the lowly Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Murray drew the ire of Los Angeles Lakers players and coaches for his trash talk at the end of a 125-116 victory on Friday -- a win that left Denver in a virtual three-way tie for eighth place in the West heading into play on Saturday. "I just like competing," Murray, who led the Nuggets with 22 points in the win, told reporters. "You know, we are playing for a playoff spot. We just came off two bad losses and we had to go out there and play with a little fire, and I guess the other team took it to heart. But I can't do anything about that but just keep playing my game and accept the challenges." The challenge for Denver on Sunday will be to avoid overlooking the Kings with a stretch of eight of nine on the road beginning on Tuesday at the Lakers. Sacramento is already eliminated from postseason contention but is not laying down as it attempts to get young players experience and earned wins in three of its last five games.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Sacramento), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE KINGS (21-45): Injuries forced Sacramento to lean more on veterans Garrett Temple and Kosta Koufos on Friday, and the two combined for 41 points to help lead coach Dave Joerger to his 200th win. "He's one of those that believes in the young guys and continues to instill confidence in the young guys," Koufos told the Sacramento Bee of Joerger. "And that's what you need, especially being a young guy trying to come into the NBA and having the opportunity to play. It's OK if you mess up, as long as you're playing hard, that's the biggest thing." One of those young guys is rookie guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who handed out a season-high 10 assists on Friday.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (36-30): Reintegrating Paul Millsap back into the rotation after three months away recovering from a wrist injury has been a challenge for Denver, but he appears to be getting more comfortable. Millsap delivered 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting on Friday -- his first 20-plus effort since Nov. 17. "Our guys understand, when Paul's got a mismatch, we have to take advantage of it," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters after Friday's win. "I think we did a pretty good job of that tonight."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Kings C Willie Cauley-Stein and PG De'Aaron Fox are both questionable for Sunday due to back issues.

2. Nuggets SF Wilson Chandler (hip) sat out Friday and is day-to-day.

3. Sacramento snapped a four-game losing streak in the series with a 106-98 home win over Denver on Jan. 6.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 118, Kings 103