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.
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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)
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)
NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama sat in Gramercy Park on Sunday and drew the statue of 19th-century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth.
It was “not bad, pretty good,” Wembanyama said. Turns out, it was the perfect mind-clearing activity that helped him shake off his miss at the buzzer in Game 2 and take over Game 3 of the NBA Finals, preventing the San Antonio Spurs from getting pushed to the brink of elimination.
“I really tried to relax,” Wembanyama said. “The playoffs is like a whirlwind. It’s hard to put your head out of the water, and sometimes it’s like I don’t even (have) to watch the game back, by the way. I just need a little time off, let my brain cool down and recover — recover as much for the body as for the mind.”
Wembanyama made the first two shots he attempted on Monday night on the way to scoring 32 points in a 115-111 victory at the New York Knicks. He had nine points in the first five minutes, including an alley-oop on the first basket of the game and a dunk on the next possession
Coach Mitch Johnson said getting the ball to Wembanyama inside was not a strategy different than any other game.
“We never told Victor don’t shoot an open 3-point shot, even if it’s early in the game,” Johnson said. “We wanted to put pressure on the paint and the rim.”
Wembanyama was a force on both ends of the court, especially late when it mattered most.
After delivering the pass to Keldon Johnson for his layup that tied the score at 76 with 5:38 left in the third, Wembanyama hit a 3-pointer from 29 feet out to put the Spurs ahead. He scored the first basket of what turned into a dominant fourth quarter, later drawing a foul and making a pair of free throws for San Antonio’s 99th and 100th points.
“Wemby played great,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “He had probably seven lob dunks because we didn’t follow attention to detail and try to take that away.”
With four minutes left and the Knicks looking to stage another comeback, the 7-foot-4 big man from France surged to block what looked to be an easy layup by Landry Shamet.
Wembanyama finished with eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks in what was close to a must-win situation. No team has fallen behind 3-0 in the finals and come back to win the series.
“I don’t think any of us are surprised or expect anything different than a strong performance and him being on his front foot in terms of being in attack mode,” Mitch Johnson said.
Teammates were not at all worried about Wembanyama in the aftermath of the 22-year-old star clanking a shot off the rim that would have been the Game 2 winner. Johnson said his recommendation was to shoot again and made clear the Spurs want the ball in Wembanyama's hands at important moments.
Before the game, Brown said of containing Wembanyama, "You hope you can make him work at the end of the day, and you hope he misses some shots.”
Wembanyama missed seven shots from the floor, going 11 of 18 and silencing the crowd that at one point directed a vulgar chant his way. Asked if he was becoming the latest New York villain, he quipped: “I guess. I’m nowhere near Trae Young level, though.”
He could surpass the longtime Atlanta Hawks and now-Washington Wizards guard as soon as Game 4 Wednesday, when Wembanyama gets the chance to help the Spurs try to even the series in Game 4 back at Madison Square Garden.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) passes as New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson defends during the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is introduced prior to Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the New York Knicks, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, tries to drive past New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) pulls down a rebound over New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks as New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks on during the second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
