The Denver Nuggets couldn’t climb out of a 24-point third-quarter hole Wednesday’s matchup with the Washington Wizards, eventually falling 123-113 at Pepsi Center. Gary Harris fueled Denver’s second-half comeback attempt, scoring a career high 26 in the loss.
Mason Plumlee scored 19 points for Denver, a high mark since coming over from Portland in a trade, and Wilson Chandler contributed 21, but it was not enough to slow down Washington’s trio of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. The Nuggets were without an important trio of their own, as Nikola Jokic (illness), Danilo Gallinari (illness) and Kenneth Faried (back) were all unavailable for the contest.
Without two of their primary offensive weapons, Jokic and Gallinari, Denver still managed to stage a second-half rally after falling down big in the first half. Denver allowed 67 points in the first two quarters and all five Washington starters scored in double-figures. Wall led all scorers with 30 points and Beal and Porter added 23 and 22 respectively. Washington’s Markieff Morris was ejected with 2:08 left to play after being whistled for a flagrant foul two when he kicked Plumlee in the groin.
With the win, Washington climbs to within one game of Boston for the No. 2 seed in the East. Denver, meanwhile, now holds only a one-game lead over Portland for the final playoff spot in the West. Denver hosts Boston on Friday.