National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Denver 122, Sacramento 111
When: 5:00 PM ET, Sunday, April 12, 2015
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Officials: #11 Lauren Holtkamp, #30 John Goble, #58 Josh Tiven
Attendance: 14004

DENVER -- Forward Kenneth Faried scored a season-high 30 points, forward Wilson Chandler added 21 points and nine rebounds as the Denver Nuggets spoiled George Karl's return to Pepsi Center with a 122-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Faried shot 12-for-14 from the field to set his season high for the second time in three games. Guard Randy Foye had 16 points for the Nuggets, who ended their home schedule with a losing record for the first time in 12 years. Denver (30-50) went 19-22 at Pepsi Center.

Forward Omri Casspi led Sacramento (27-53) with 22 points.

Karl was courtside in Denver for the first time since he was fired by the Nuggets following the 2012-13 season. He guided the team to a franchise-record 57 wins that season and was named the NBA Coach of the Year, but another first-round exit led to his dismissal

Karl said he harbored no ill-will toward the organization.

"My greatest revenge is going to be my success, not their failure," he said before the game. "I don't know if I had hard feelings. I had disappointment. I had too many good memories here. I wanted to end my life here. I wanted to end my career here. They took that away from me, but they gave me nine years and paid me well."

Karl's legacy in Denver started when he took over midway through 2004-05 and led the Nuggets to a 32-8 finish and the playoffs. He made the playoffs every season, but the only time he got past the first round was in 2008-09, when Denver reached the Western Conference finals.

He had an unhappy return to the city where he won 423 games for the Nuggets. Denver led by 14 early and then used a surge in the third quarter to turn a one-point halftime lead into a 94-84 advantage.

Chandler had seven points to start the fourth as Denver increased the lead to 108-94.

Both teams shot better than 50 percent but were plagued by turnovers. Sacramento gave the ball away 20 times, and Denver committed 18 turnovers.

NOTES: Nuggets G Jameer Nelson (right hip flexor strain) missed his third consecutive game, and F Darrell Arthur missed his ninth game in a row with a right calf strain. Both players likely will miss the rest of the season, but no official decision was made. ... The Kings signed G David Stockton for the remainder of the season. Stockton previously signed a 10-day contract with Sacramento on Feb. 20. ... The Nuggets signed G Jamaal Franklin, and he played three scoreless minutes. ... Kings F Reggie Evans was out of the lineup with a right thumb sprain. He missed his third game in a row.
Top Game Performances
 
Sacramento   Denver
Omri Casspi 22 Scoring Kenneth Faried 30
Omri Casspi 7 Assists Ty Lawson 11
Omri Casspi 7 Rebounds Wilson Chandler 9
Ben McLemore 6 Free Throws Made Randy Foye 7
Ben McLemore 4 Steals Wilson Chandler 3
N/A Blocks Jusuf Nurkic 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Sacramento 111 51.4 5-18 30-42 28 32 0 13 20
Denver 122 54.9 9-26 23-30 32 42 1 15 18
Upcoming Games
  • Denver will play their next game on the road against L.A. Clippers. The Nuggets have a W/L % of .483 after a win and .314 after a loss.
  • Sacramento will play their next game at home against L.A. Lakers. The Kings have a W/L % of .321 after a win and .346 after a loss.