Bradley Beal scored 33 points and the Washington Wizards escaped Denver with a 112-110 victory Thursday night when Facundo Campazzo missed a hurried 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Rui Hachimura added 20 points for the Wizards, who swept their home-and-home series with the Nuggets and completed a 3-1 trip out West. Denver got 34 points from Jamal Murray, 24 points from Nikola Jokic and 18 from Michael Porter Jr.
Click to Gallery
Bradley Beal scored 33 points and the Washington Wizards escaped Denver with a 112-110 victory Thursday night when Facundo Campazzo missed a hurried 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Nuggets committed 18 turnovers two days after turning the ball over just once in a victory over Portland.
Denver trailed until Zeke Nnaji's bucket in the final minute of the third quarter gave the Nuggets an 88-86 advantage. Neto's two free throws sent the game into the fourth quarter knotted at 88.
Nuggets: Denver was still without Gary Harris (left adductor), P.J. Dozier (right hamstring), Paul Millsap (left knee strain) and JaMychal Green (left shoulder). With their top two power forwards sidelined, Porter started at that spot again. ... The Nuggets started out 4-for-17 from the field, including 1-for-12 by players not named Jokic.
Nuggets: At Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Thunder will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.
Murray missed a 26-foot step-back jumper with 31 seconds remaining and Beal got the rebound. Raul Neto’s floater with 5.6 seconds was off the mark and Jokic got the rebound. But Murray passed up a 3-point attempt and instead threw a long pass to Campazzo, who missed from 25 feet, and the Wizards ran off the court in jubilation at another close win.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots as Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner (21) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Denver. (AP PhotoJack Dempsey)
The Nuggets committed 18 turnovers two days after turning the ball over just once in a victory over Portland.
Russell Westbrook had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Washington, his ninth triple-double of the season and the 155th of his career. Rui Hachimura added 20 points.
The Nuggets started out cold, missing 13 of their first 17 shots, but they surged to a 51-48 lead on the strength of a 19-4 run. The Wizards responded with a mini-spurt of their own to head into the locker room with a 56-54 lead.
Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris (11) steals the ball from Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Denver. (AP PhotoJack Dempsey)
Denver trailed until Zeke Nnaji's bucket in the final minute of the third quarter gave the Nuggets an 88-86 advantage. Neto's two free throws sent the game into the fourth quarter knotted at 88.
TIP-INS
Wizards: Washington wrapped up a four-game trip. ... The Wizards saw their five-game winning streak snapped by the Clippers on Tuesday night but have been playing much better of late, including a 130-128 win over Denver last week in which Davis Bertans had career highs with nine 3-pointers and 35 points.
Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Denver. (AP PhotoJack Dempsey)
Nuggets: Denver was still without Gary Harris (left adductor), P.J. Dozier (right hamstring), Paul Millsap (left knee strain) and JaMychal Green (left shoulder). With their top two power forwards sidelined, Porter started at that spot again. ... The Nuggets started out 4-for-17 from the field, including 1-for-12 by players not named Jokic.
UP NEXT
Wizards: On Saturday they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have lost six straight since beating the Toronto Raptors on Valentine’s Day.
Washington Wizards' Moritz Wagner (21) and Russell Westbrook (4) and Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) go after a rebound during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Denver. (AP PhotoJack Dempsey)
Nuggets: At Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Thunder will be playing the second night of a back-to-back.
Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) goes up for a shot against Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner (21) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Denver. (AP PhotoJack Dempsey)