LOS ANGELES, March 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Nikola Jokic tallied 15 points and
11 assists as the Denver Nuggets used a balanced attack to win their fifth
straight game with a 113-108 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday.
Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Torrey Craig added 15 points
for the Nuggets, who were playing for the first time since punching their
ticket to the playoffs on Monday in a win over the Boston Celtics.
“I was really worried about this game just because of the hangover effect
of clinching in Boston,” coach Michael Malone said. “To pull this out, even
though it wasn’t pretty, speaks to our team and not being satisfied.”
Eight players reached double figures for Denver, who are on a four-game
road trip.
Bradley Beal scored 25 points, Tomas Satoransky had 16 points and 10
assists and Thomas Bryant scored 22 in his first start in a month for
Washington, who are seeing their playoff hopes dim after dropping their third
straight.
The Wizards are now six games back of eighth-place Miami with nine games
left in the season.
“You try to be optimistic about it, but realistic at the same time, too,”
Beal said. “It’s tough when you’re in the position where you need help from
other teams. They’re trying to make it just like we are.”