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The good news is that the Sacramento Kings came to Denver to face the Nuggets, fresh off a 100-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

The bad news? The Nuggets would get Carmelo Anthony back, returning after a two-week absence due to a death in his immediate family.

As it would turn out, Anthony would be rusty yet the Nuggets would not suffer much as they got offensive help from their bench, allowing Denver to cruise to the easy 104-86 win over Sacramento at Pepsi Center.

The game received some surpringly good performances. Nuggets center Nene Hilario, soldiering through back and hamstring problems, scored 16 points and six rebounds in 18 first-half minutes, which allowed the Nuggets to take a 51-39 lead.

Anthony had his moments late in the third quarter as he drained a pair of jumpers and two free throws in a quick 6-2 spurt, putting Denver up 59-51, then took a seat until his return to the hardwood at the 5:32 mark of the fourth period.

The Nuggets would take a 69-60 lead into the final quarter and would use a 13-0 run behind a pair of J.R. Smith treys to put this game away.

Chauncey Billups led the Nuggets with 22 points (including three 3-pointers), 4 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal and a block along with 5 turnovers while Smith added 17 (including three treys) with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. Hilario and Anthony each chipped in 16 – with Hilario grabbing 14 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, along with 2 steals and a block while Anthony grabbed 10 boards and dished out an assist, along with a steal and turning the ball over 6 times.

Jason Thompson led the Kings with 17 points, 7 rebounds, an assist and a steal while DeMarcus Cousins added 16 with 8 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals. Carl Landry came off the bench to add 13 with 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Denver (19-13) plays again on Monday when they remain at home to host the Houston Rockets while Sacramento (6-24) returns home to host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.