Poor defensive rebounding and turnovers put the Denver Nuggets in a hole as they once again trailed by double digit points in the second half, but well timed three pointers, blocks, and steals allowed for another fourth quarter comeback against the hapless Washington Wizards, 75-74. Denver finished their six-game east coast road trip at 4-2.
Denver scored a season low 75 points as the offense stalled without team leader Ty Lawson, out with a strained hamstring. Andre Miller was unable to fill his shoes, finishing with 4 turnovers and just 3 points. The Nuggets were outscored once again in the first quarter, 22-18. Denver was outscored in the first frame in all six of their games on the road trip. They had 11 first half turnovers and 11 offensive rebounds given up allowed a sloppy and undermanned Wizards team to lead most of the game.
Jordan Hamilton keyed Denver’s fourth quarter run, hitting back to back threes with six minutes remaining. Randy Foye followed up with another three and the Nuggets were within one point with four and a half to go. Nate Robinson intercepted a pass from Glen Rice Jr. and drove to the hoop for a layup as Denver regained the lead, 73-72. Kenneth Faried finally showed up, blocking a John Wall layup which lead to a Faried slam on the ensuing fast break. Denver led 75-74 with :32 seconds remaining and never relinquished the lead.
Wall scored 20 points and 8 assists, along with a beautiful blocked shot. But he had four turnovers, as his pocket was picked multiple times, none more crucial than when Nate Robinson poked the ball out of Wall's hands in the final seconds of a one point game. The Wizards' offense was ugly most of the game, but it was even uglier when Wall was on the bench, as Washington had two shot clock violations early in the second quarter while Wall was taking a breather.
Denver’s bench outscored Washington’s 34-5. The Wizards’ bench was shorthanded, as Trevor Booker and Glen Rice Jr. started in place of the injured Martell Webster and, SURPRISE!, Nene. Otto Porter Jr. is giving Anthony Bennett a run for his money. The third overall pick in this year’s draft played over seven minutes of scoreless basketball. He has started his career off with two straight games without a field goal. Bennett waited until his fifth game before making his first field goal of his career. Stiffs, place your bets below!
Opposition's take: Bullets Forever
Box score: here
