Jamal Murray scores 42 points to lead Nuggets to victory over Wizards

DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 42 points on 15-for-24 shooting and the Denver Nuggets pulled away in the final minutes for a 121-115 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

With the game tied at 110, Murray hit a 3-pointer with 2:12 to play to put the Nuggets ahead to stay. He then added another jumper and a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 117-110.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had a season-high 30 points and Peyton Watson scored 21 as Denver, still playing without the injured Nikola Jokic (left knee bone bruise), won its fourth in a row and for the sixth time in its last seven games.

Kyshawn George had 29 points to lead the Wizards, who lost their sixth in a row including all four on this road trip. Khris Middleton and Alex Sarr scored 16 each.

The Nuggets shot 53% from the floor in the game including 40% from 3-point range.

The Nuggets made 14 3-pointers compared to the Wizards 11.

Murray scored 23 points in the first half and the Nuggets went into the break trailing 63-62. The Wizards held onto the lead through the third and entered the fourth up 86-83. Murray’s 16-point fourth quarter helped the Nuggets finish off the victory.

Wizards: Return home to face the Clippers on Monday.

Nuggets: Host the Hornets on Sunday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, center front, pulls in thee ball as, from top left to right, Washington Wizards forwards Jamir Watkins, Will Riley and Marvin Bagley III defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, looks to shoot for a basket over Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, right, pursues the ball with Washington Wizards guard Justin Champagnie, center, and forward Marvin Bagley III, left, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

From left to right, Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III, Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji, Wizards guard Justin Champagnie and Nuggets forward Spencer Jones pursue the ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, drives to the basket between Washington Wizards guard Justin Champagnie, left, and center Alex Sarr, front right, in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Virgil van Dijk headed home a dramatic winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time to earn Liverpool a 2-1 victory at Everton in a Merseyside derby featuring a record-tying goal from Mohamed Salah on Sunday.

Salah, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine trophy-filled seasons, marked his final derby by slotting in a low finish in the 29th minute. His ninth Merseyside derby goal drew him even with Liverpool great Steven Gerrard for the most in the Premier League era (since 1992).

It was Liverpool's other stalwart, Van Dijk, who sealed the win by turning in a corner by Dominik Szoboszlai.

There was so much stoppage time because Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced off on a stretcher after sustaining an injury attempting in vain to save a 54th-minute shot by Beto that brought Everton level.

Liverpool moved seven points clear of sixth-place Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification, with the top five assured of a berth in Europe's top competition next season.

A win for Everton in the first derby at its new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock would have lifted the team just two points behind Liverpool.

Aston Villa consolidated its spot among the Champions League qualification places by beating Sunderland 4-3 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Tammy Abraham.

Villa stayed in fourth place, behind Manchester United on goal difference, but moved 10 points ahead of sixth-place Chelsea with five rounds remaining.

Ollie Watkins scored a first-half double and also set up Morgan Rogers for Villa’s other goal against Sunderland, which briefly equalized through Chris Rigg to make it 1-1 and then scored in the 86th and 87th minutes via Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor, respectively.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored a second-half hat trick as Nottingham Forest rallied to beat Burnley 4-1 and further boost its survival hopes.

Forest moved five points clear of third-to-last Tottenham in the relegation zone, while next-to-last Burnley slipped closer to the drop to the Championship.

Igor Jesus scored a late fourth for Forest, which fell behind to Zian Flemming's goal in first-half stoppage time.

Later, it could be a defining day in the title race when Manchester City host Arsenal in a meeting between the top two. The Premier League trophy is on display, pitchside, at Etihad Stadium for the big occasion.

A win for Arsenal and the long-time league leaders will regain a nine-point advantage, leaving them in a strong position to become English champions for the first time since 2004.

A win for City and the gap would be reduced to three points. City would also have a game in hand, at next-to-last Burnley on Wednesday. After that, both teams would have five matches left.

A draw would suit Arsenal more, keeping a six-point cushion between the teams.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White celebrates scoring his side's third goal to complete his hat-trick during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Burnley in Nottingham, England, Sunday April 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Liverpool in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

FILE - Sweden's Viktor Gyokeres dribbles during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Slovenia and Sweden at the Stozice stadium in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)