National Basketball Association
Denver 113, Washington 107
When: 9:00 PM ET, Monday, December 13, 2021
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Officials: #37 Eric Dalen, #25 Tony Brothers, #89 Dannica Mosher
Attendance: 14632

Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 19 rebounds and nine assists before being ejected, Monte Morris scored 22 points and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Washington Wizards 113-107 on Monday night.

Aaron Gordon had 16 points and Jeff Green scored 13 for the Nuggets, who held a 33-point lead in the third quarter but had to hold on. Jokic was tossed midway through the fourth period after arguing calls with two different referees after the same passage of play.

Davis Bertans scored 21 points, Bradley Beal had 19 points and 10 assists, Aaron Holiday added 18 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 13 for Washington.

The Wizards were without Kyle Kuzma due to health and safety protocols.

Denver was missing JaMychal Green, who suffered an ankle injury in San Antonio on Saturday night, and Will Barton, who has missed the past two games with a non-COVID illness.

The Nuggets led by seven after the first quarter and quickly expanded the gap in the second.

Markus Howard hit a 3-pointer and Vlatko Cancar scored five points in an 8-2 run to open the period, making it 37-24. Daniel Gafford's dunk got the Wizards within 46-37 midway through the quarter, but then the Nuggets began to pull away.

Morris hit a 3-pointer and Jokic scored the Nuggets' last six points of the half to put Denver ahead 59-41 at intermission.

In the third quarter, Jokic hit a 3-pointer and a layup, Morris completed a four-point play and Jeff Green scored six straight points to make it 74-44 with 9:03 left in the third.

Denver was ahead 81-48 with 6:48 left in the third before the Wizards made a push. Beal hit a fadeaway, a bank shot and two 3-pointers during a 13-4 run that got the deficit under 20. Washington got within 101-85 with 6:26 left.

Less than a minute later, Jokic was ejected, and the Wizards eventually cut the margin to 105-95 with 3:25 left. Holliday's 10-footer made it an eight-point game and Washington had a chance to get closer, but Beal was called for charging with 1:37 left.

Gordon dunk's made it 107-97 with 1:17 to go. Caldwell-Pope hit a 3-pointer before Denver closed out the win at the foul line.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Washington   Denver
Davis Bertans 21 Scoring Nikola Jokic 28
Bradley Beal 10 Assists Nikola Jokic 9
Montrezl Harrell 6 Rebounds Nikola Jokic 19
Aaron Holiday 5 Free Throws Made Nikola Jokic 9
Deni Avdija 3 Steals Nikola Jokic 3
Deni Avdija 1 Blocks Vlatko Cancar 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Washington 107 45.6 12-34 13-21 25 41 5 7 10
Denver 113 46.8 10-32 29-33 26 49 2 8 13
Upcoming Games
  • Denver will play their next game at home against Minnesota. The Nuggets have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .462 after a loss.
  • Washington will play their next game on the road against Sacramento. The Wizards have a W/L % of .533 after a win and .538 after a loss.