Wizards at Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are tied for the top spot in the Western Conference with the defending champion Golden State Warriors and traded terrible losses with solid wins in their last four games. The Nuggets will try to find some consistency at home when they host the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Denver followed up a 124-88 loss at Indiana with a win over Detroit, only to drop a 112-85 decision at Houston on Thursday and recover by knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-105 on Friday. "After the tough loss last night, we needed to give our best game," All-Star center Nikola Jokic told reporters after posting 23 points and 16 rebounds against the Thunder. "We know that they are an extremely talented and physical team that never gives up. We were playing really good basketball tonight." The Wizards were eliminated from postseason contention while dropping six of their last seven games but aren't giving up on the season and took the Utah Jazz down to the wire before suffering a 128-124 road loss on Friday. "I know we're going to keep competing," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "We've got guys that are going to play hard. Brad (Beal) has led us all year in some tough situations and we've competed. We haven't got enough wins that we would like but we're right there with a lot of teams and just a couple of plays down the stretch and a lot of our games, but it's about growing and learning and competing and we're going to continue to do that these last five (games)."
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (31-46): Instead of sitting starters to rest after being eliminated from contention, Washington is pushing to the finish and Beal led the way with 34 points on 13-of-25 shooting while adding six assists and a pair of steals on Friday. Center Thomas Bryant is making the most of the rest of the season as well and followed up an 18-point, 19-rebound effort in a win at Phoenix on Wednesday with 11 points and 12 boards on Friday. Power forward Bobby Portis is settling in nicely with his new team and knocked down six 3-pointers to go with 28 points and 13 rebounds against the Jazz.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (51-24): Denver point guard Jamal Murray scored 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting and handed out nine assists in Friday's win. "This might have been Jamal's best game, complete game in a Nuggets uniform," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "I loved how he played tonight. That's the Jamal Murray we need every night moving forward." Murray is averaging 26.7 points over the last three games and did not commit a turnover in either of the last two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SF Trevor Ariza (groin) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.
2. Jokic posted a double-double in six of the last seven games.
3. Denver earned a 113-108 victory at Washington on March 21 with Murray and Jokic scoring 15 points apiece.