NBA: Denver 118, Sacramento 99

DENVER, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Denver got off to a slow start Tuesday before Linas Kleiza and Chauncey Billup got revved up and the Nuggets zoomed to a 118-99 win over Sacramento.

Kleiza scored 27 points and Billups added 22 in the Nuggets' first win in three games. J.R. Smith added 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Denver shot 56.3 percent from the field.

The Kings were led by Kevin Martin's 25 points. Jason Thompson added 18 points with 11 rebounds as Sacramento slipped to 2-8 in its last 10 outings.

Sacramento led 31-23 in the first quarter but Denver went on a 13-2 run and out-scored the Kings 71-44 over the next to quarters to put the game on ice. Kleiza hit 10 straight Denver points in the fourth as the Nuggets cruised down the stretch.