Jamal Murray erupted for 42 points on 15-of-24 shooting and took over late as the Denver Nuggets pulled away for a 121-115 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
With the game tied at 110, Murray drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining, then followed with a jumper and two free throws to seal the win. He scored 16 of his points in the fourth quarter, finishing off a dominant individual performance.
Tim Hardaway Jr. added a season-high 30 points and Peyton Watson scored 21 for Denver, which continued to thrive despite missing Nikola Jokic for a fourth straight game with a left knee bone bruise. The Nuggets have now won four in a row and six of their last seven.
Kyshawn George led Washington with 29 points as the Wizards dropped their sixth straight game, including all four contests on their current road trip. Khris Middleton and rookie Alex Sarr contributed 16 points apiece.
Denver shot 53 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc, knocking down 14 3-pointers compared to 11 for Washington.
Murray scored 23 points in the first half, but Denver trailed 63-62 at the break. The Wizards maintained their edge through the third quarter and entered the final period up 86-83 before Murray’s late surge swung the outcome.
Up next:
The Wizards return home to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. The Nuggets continue their homestand Sunday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
