Denver Nuggets Cruise Past Wizards with Nikola Jokic’s 42-Point Performance

Nikola Jokic delivered a stellar performance with 42 points, shooting 15-of-20, and grabbing 12 rebounds, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 113-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday night. Jokic also dished out eight assists and has been shooting an impressive 74.6 percent in the past 12 games, contributing to Denver’s eight victories during this period.

Supporting Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each scored 19 points. Aaron Gordon added 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 10 points for the Nuggets. The Wizards saw contributions from Tyus Jones with 15 points and 13 assists, Kyle Kuzma with 17 points, Daniel Gafford also scoring 15, and Landry Shamet and Marvin Bagley III each adding 14 points off the bench.

The Nuggets had a nine-point lead after the first quarter, but the Wizards fought back to tie it early in the second quarter. Denver then regained the lead and extended it with a 13-1 run, featuring key plays from Gordon, Jokic, Porter, and Murray. Washington managed to reduce the deficit to 10 points at halftime, thanks to Bilal Coulibaly’s three-pointer.

In the third quarter, Denver expanded their lead, but the Wizards remained persistent. Gafford and Kuzma narrowed the gap before Denver called a timeout. Afterward, Gordon’s three-point play and Jokic’s assist to Murray sparked another Denver run, with Jokic scoring 10 consecutive points for the team.

Shamet’s free throws closed the third quarter with the Wizards trailing 89-78. In the fourth quarter, the Wizards closed in twice, but Denver maintained control. Murray’s successful free throws and layup increased the Nuggets’ lead. Although Jones made it an 11-point game, Porter and Caldwell-Pope’s consecutive three-pointers secured a comfortable lead for Denver for the remainder of the game.