The Washington Wizards gave the defending champion Denver Nuggets all they could handle on Saturday night-but once again, the fourth quarter proved to be their undoing. Despite leading for most of the game and dominating the glass, Washington fell short late, dropping a 121-115 decision on the road.
The Wizards came out of the gate a little sluggish, but they found their rhythm by the end of the first quarter and carried a narrow 63-62 lead into halftime. Khris Middleton and rookie big man Alex Sarr both hit double digits early, helping to steady the offense. More importantly, Washington controlled the boards, out-rebounding Denver 23-17 in the first half-a stat that kept them in front despite the Nuggets’ efficient shooting.
That rebounding edge didn’t go away, either. Washington kept crashing the glass in the third quarter, maintaining their edge on the boards and holding onto the lead. But as we've seen time and time again this season, hanging with elite teams for three quarters is one thing-closing them out is another story entirely.
In the fourth, Denver's firepower took over. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jamal Murray combined for 31 of the Nuggets’ 38 points in the final frame, flipping the game on its head. The Wizards put up 29 in the quarter themselves, with rookie Kyshawn George going off for 14 of his team-high 29 points, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Denver’s late surge.
The final box tells a familiar tale: Washington won the rebounding battle handily, 48-38, but couldn’t overcome Denver’s offensive efficiency. The Nuggets shot a scorching 52.9% from the field, while the Wizards managed just 45.8%. That kind of shooting gap is tough to survive-especially on the road and especially against a team with championship pedigree.
With the road trip now in the books, the Wizards return home to face another Western Conference contender: the Los Angeles Clippers. That game tips off Monday at 3 p.m.
ET. If Washington can bring the same energy-and find a way to finish stronger-they’ll have a shot to turn the tide.