Nuggets 75, Wizards 74
WASHINGTON -- Small forward Wilson Chandler scored 17 points and guard Nate Robinson had 16 as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Washington Wizards during a low-scoring second half for a 75-74 win Monday night.
With the Wizards failing to make a field goal the final four minutes, the Nuggets (13-8) won despite scoring their fewest points of the season and committing 22 turnovers. Playing their second straight game without point guard and leading scorer Ty Lawson, Denver (13-8) wrapped up its six-game road trip with a 4-2 record.
John Wall had 20 points and eight assists for the Wizards (9-11), but he missed four shots inside the final 2:31 and committed a turnover on the final possession. After Nuggets forward Kenneth Faired missed two free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining, Robinson swiped the ball from a driving Wall before the Wizards star could attempt a shot.
Faried, who scored six points, dunked with 32.7 seconds left to put Denver ahead moments after he blocked a Wall layup attempt.
Center Marcin Gortan scored 16 points, and forward Trevor Booker had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who lost their second game in a row, both at home. Washington shot 36 percent from the field and 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) on 3-point attempts.
Led by Robinson, who also had four steals, the Nuggets' reserves outscored Washington's bench 34-5.
Both teams were short-handed in their first of two meetings this season. The Wizards were without starting forwards Martell Webster (sprained left ankle) and Nene (right foot tendinitis).
The battle of backups turned into a battle of offensive attrition in the second half after Washington led 45-40 at halftime. Denver outscored the Wizards 18-15 in the third quarter and 17-14 in the final period. Neither team led by more than four points inside the final six minutes.
Denver scored just 18 points in the first quarter.
With Washington guard Bradley Beal still out due to a lower-leg injury, coach Randy Wittman had scant perimeter or bench options. Seldom-used rookie swingman Glen Rice Jr. made his first NBA start and scored seven points.
NOTES: Denver's previous low-game total was 88 points at Cleveland on Dec. 4. ... Nuggets G Andre Miller made his second consecutive start in place of Ty Lawson (hamstring). ... Wizards G Bradley Beal was cleared to increase basketball activities after a follow-up MRI exam showed improvement in the stress injury to his right fibula. Washington's leading scorer missed his seventh game Monday. The team also announced that F Al Harrington would miss four weeks after undergoing a procedure to clear out loose particles in his right knee Wednesday. The veteran last played Nov. 12. ... The Denver bench entered Monday ranked second in the NBA with an average of 45.3 points per game. ... Both teams are off until Friday when the Nuggets host the Utah Jazz and the Wizards travel to face the Atlanta Hawks.
