Nuggets pull away from Wizards
Nikola Jokic had 31 points and 12 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets shook off a slow start and beat the short-handed Washington Wizards 118-104 on Wednesday night.
Michael Porder Jr. added 21 points and Jamal Murray had 17 for Western Conference-leading Denver.
The Nuggets went 15 for 32 from beyond the arc and finished a season-high five-game trip with three wins. The trip began with a loss in Toronto that was the last setback in a season-worst fourgame slide.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 25 points for the Wizards, who were without three-time All-star guard Bradley Beal due to left knee soreness.
Deni Avdija added 16 points for Washington, which lost its fourth straight. Washington entered the game in 12th place in the East and 2 1/2 games back of Chicago for the final play-in spot.
Beal had played 31 minutes and scored 16 points in Tuesday’s 122112 loss at Orlando. Forward Kyle Kuzma (right ankle) also missed a second straight start.
Neither team led by more than six before halftime. Denver opened up a 21-point lead after outscoring Washington 39-16 in the third quarter.
The Nuggets began the period hitting their first four shots — three from beyond the arc — and ended it with an 8-0 spurt, punctuated by Bruce Brown’s running dunk followed by Jeff Green’s corner 3 with 0.3 seconds left.
Tip-ins
Nuggets: Finished the season 8-7 on the road against Eastern Conference teams while improving to 19-18 in their travels overall . ... Jokic had seven assists, falling three short of his 29th tripledouble this season . ... Murray had eight assists and six rebounds.
Wizards: Shot a season-worst 4 of 26 (15.4%) from beyond the arc . ... Jordan Goodwin scored 12 points and was the only other Washington player in double figures . ... Beal missed his 23rd game of the season and his first since a
Feb. 6 home loss to Cleveland. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. said pregame that Beal is day to day.