WASHINGTON — Jordan Poole delivered an impressive performance, netting 39 points, as the Washington Wizards defeated the Denver Nuggets 122-113 on Saturday night, effectively ending their 16-game losing streak.
The Nuggets were missing several key players, including Jamal Murray due to a hamstring issue, Aaron Gordon with a calf strain, and Dario Saric who has an ankle injury. This left Nikola Jokic to shoulder a significant burden for Denver, as he produced a staggering 56 points, a new career high, alongside 16 rebounds and 8 assists. Jokic attempted 38 shots in the game, also the most he has ever taken in a single contest.
Despite Jokic’s individual brilliance, the Wizards consistently found ways to counter. With this victory, Washington (3-18) secured their first win since October 30, tying a franchise record with their previous 16-game losing streak.
Poole shined from beyond the arc, hitting a career-high nine three-pointers, contributing to the Wizards’ total of 16 for the night. In contrast, the Nuggets struggled significantly with their shooting, going just 5 for 24 from three-point range, which hindered their ability to capitalize on Jokic’s dominance.
At halftime, the Wizards led 69-57. Even though Jokic exploded for 23 points in the third quarter, Washington maintained a six-point advantage when he took a seat at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Nuggets found themselves trailing 108-95 upon his return with 7:35 left in the game.
In terms of takeaway insights, while Jokic’s extraordinary performance stood out, the absence of a triple-double indicated a lack of balanced support from the rest of the team. Julian Strawther made a decent impact off the bench with 18 points.
For the Wizards, though the Nuggets were not at full capacity, they still managed to secure a win despite their own injury concerns, with Kyle Kuzma (rib) and rookie Alex Sarr (back) unable to participate in the game.
A critical moment in the match came when Justin Champagnie executed a driving bank shot with just 1:12 remaining, extending the Wizards’ lead to 118-111. Champagnie recorded a personal best of 23 points during the game.
Interestingly, while Jokic’s previous career high was 50 points, achieved on February 6, 2021, this evening’s 56 points mark a significant milestone for the star center.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Sunday, with the Nuggets heading to Atlanta and the Wizards preparing to host Memphis.
