A little boy named Alex walked into the Kings locker room following Sacramento’s 106-101 victory Monday against the Denver Nuggets. 

The youngster held a sign that read, “Santa said I could meet Mr. Jon Brockman.”

Brockman, who had grabbed 10 rebounds and scored six points, while helping the Kings use their brawn and aggression to earn the victory, said, “Alright. Now that’s a sign.”

Brockman (aka Wildman) already introduced himself to the Northwest Division-leading Nuggets with his performance Wednesday to the Central Division-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and in double-overtime last Saturday to the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Brockman, Andres Nocioni and Sergio Rodriguez came off the bench to fortify an effort without rookie star Tyreke Evans. This is the second game he's missed this season. Evans suffered a sprained right ankle Saturday in the double-overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets were without all-star point guard Chauncey Billups, who has a strained left groin.

Nocioni led the Kings (14-16) in scoring with 21 points and came off the bench visibly excited about playing and scoring. He made six of seven field-goal attempts (four of five from three-point range) and five of six free-throw attempts.

Nocioni had made just four of 17 field-goal attempts during his previous four games and had been used a combined 15 minutes in the losses to Cleveland and L.A.

Kings coach Paul Westphal said Nocioni had gone through a tough stretch recently.

“Nocioni obviously has been struggling shooting the ball lately and also defensively,” he said. “He’s a real pro who doesn’t ever back up. I told him after the game, 'Noc, you know how to get out of a shooting slump, don’t you?' ”

"He said, 'Yeah, keep shooting.’ ”

Westphal, a pretty fair shooter during his playing career, said, “It’s a shame to be hot and not know it; you’ve got to find out. If you’re a shooter, that’s what you do. He didn’t hesitate and I think sometimes he has been hesitating when he’s struggling with his shot. (Tonight), he didn’t.”

The game had 12 lead changes and 11 ties as the Kings battled the Nuggets, who grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and committed just nine turnovers. The Kings committed 17 turnovers that Denver converted into 25 points.

Sacramento trailed 94-92 with three minutes left in the game when Westphal reinserted Donte Greene, who scored nine of the Kings first 11 points and exhibited a strong defense against his hometown Baltimore big brother, Carmelo Anthony.

Greene, who made his 17th start of the season to a crowd of 14,548, said he wondered if he would get back into the game as time dwindled.

“I was sitting there hoping I’d get back in because there have been games when I came out in the third quarter and never got back in,” said Greene, who made six of nine field-goal attempts and all of his free-throw attempts for 17 points. “I just wanted to get back in and try to help us win the game.”

Greene scored the first time he touched the ball and also assisted on a three-pointer by Omri Casspi moments later to give the Kings (97-96) the lead for the remaining 2:01.

Greene helped pressure Anthony into a forced seven-footer on the ensuing possession.

Anthony scored a game-high 34 points, but shot 15 of 35 from the field, thanks in part to the defense by Greene and Nocioni.

Greene’s defense clearly was a highlight not lost on Westphal.

“ Donte,” Westphal said, “think about it – he guarded LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. They all scored big and we told him '(Monday night), if (Melo) doesn’t get 40, we’ve got a chance.’ I thought Donte really took the challenge and made it tough for Carmelo.”

Alex got what he wished for from Santa, and the Kings got a win, even if it wasn't delivered on Christmas Day.