After leading by 23 early, the Nuggets had to climb out of a 10-point hole for a wild comeback win over the Kings on Monday in Sacramento.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 130-129 win over the Kings:

1. Despite another triple-double, it was far from Nikola Jokic’s best performance, but it was just good enough. The Nuggets trailed by two with 40 seconds left. Despite an 0-for-5 start from 3-point range, Jokic hoisted another attempt from deep and connected, giving the Nuggets a one-point lead with 31 seconds left. He also orchestrated the two-man game that led to Jamal Murray’s game-winning basket and he finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists to go with three steals and a block. The counting stats are impressive, but Jokic finished 8 of 19 from the field with five turnovers. For most of his night, he wasn’t good or efficient enough to lead the Nuggets to victory, but he stepped up in the final minute to salvage the night.

2. It feels like the Nuggets believe they have a better grasp on the on-off switch than they actually have. After extending the lead to 23 points, Denver took its collective foot off the pedal in the second and third quarters, giving up a combined 82 points in the middle half. All five of Sacramento’s starters scored 16 or more points. Fortunately for the Nuggets, the Kings’ shorthanded bench totaled just 14 points to Denver’s 29. Julian Strawther led Denver’s second unit with 13 points on 12 shots, while Peyton Watson and Hunter Tyson added nine and seven points, respectively.

3. With Christian Braun out, Nuggets coach Michael Malone presumably started Russell Westbrook alongside Jamal Murray because Malone liked Westbrook as the primary defender on De’Aaron Fox. It got off to a promising start, but Fox got hot late and finished with 29 points on 24 shots. With Westbrook on Sacramento’s lead guard, Malik Monk took advantage by scoring 25 points on 19 shots. The Nuggets managed to play just the two point guards, as Murray staggered with the second unit in the minutes Jokic sat out. Murray’s game-winning basket helped rescue an otherwise pedestrian night. Murray finished with 28 points on 26 shots and added six assists and a couple of rebounds in 38 minutes. Westbrook ended a rebound shy of a triple-double with 18 points and 10 assists.

NUGGETS 130, KINGS 129

What happened: A dominant first quarter gave the Nuggets a 20-point cushion to start the second, but Sacramento closed within 75-68 by halftime. The Kings moved in front early in the third and increased the lead to seven to start the fourth.

What went right: After a 10-for-25 start from the field, Jamal Murray hit what turned out to be the game-winning shot with just under 9 seconds to play. DeMar DeRozan fumbled a pass in the final second, which helped extend Denver’s winning streak to three games.

What went wrong: Christian Braun’s games-played streak came to an end after more than a year. Braun was ruled out pregame with a lower-back strain. The last time the third-year wing missed a game came during the 2023 Western Conference Finals during his rookie season.

Highlight of the night: Aaron Gordon had a series of dunks in the first half but none was more impressive than his one-handed alley-oop finish off a lob from Murray. The pass was a little high, but that just provided Gordon an opportunity to show off his bounce.

Up next: The Nuggets have a couple of days off before Thursday’s game in Portland.