The Denver Nuggets, led by two-time league MVP Nikola Jokic, defeated the Washingtоn Wizards 104–113 at home on Sunday, their second loss in less than twenty-four hours. The Wizards were punished with 42 points from Jokic.

The Serbian came close to a triple-double, which would have been his twelfth of the season, along with 12 rebounds and 8 assists.

This Saturday, the Wizards (7-35) were coming off their third straight agonizing loss to the San Antonio Spurs (127-131), another club with dismal results this season.

On the other hand, the Nuggets (30-14) came in the nation’s capital with a renewed sense of confidence after their 100-102 victory at home against the Boston Celtics, the greatest NBA club to date.

Jokic’s accomplices in the Nuggets’ win in Washingtоn were Michael Porter Jr. (19 points and 6 rebounds) and Jamal Murray (19 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists).

With 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, Kyle Kuzma was once again the Wizards’ best player. Tyus Jones had a double-double with 15 points and 13 assists.

The Nuggets are now third in the West, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (29-13) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (30-12), after their latest victory.

With slightly better records than the Detroit Pistons (4-38), the Wizards continue to be the second-worst team in both the NBA and the East.

Only Jokic

When the Washingtоn Wizards faced the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, it had just been 20 hours since they had concluded their game against San Antonio. Despite this, Wes Unseld Jr.’s team seemed in no weariness and claimed the lead early on.The reigning champion showed no feаr in the face of a squad that is struggling to win this year. Nikola Jokic, a Serbian, gained the lead for Denver with 15 points in the first quarter and the club finished the quarter comfortably, winning 24-33 thanks to a triple on Jamal Murray’s horn.Not long after the second quarter began, the Wizards and Denver were knotted 37–37. Despite this, the Wizards never gained the lead throughout the quarter.Once again, Jokic carried the team to victory with 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists at the half. Denver’s lead grew to 49-62 (+13) before Bilal Coulibaly sealed the victory with another three-pointer at the buzzer. 52–62 at the half.

Washingtоn does not give more of itself

The Wizards had to defy the trend that their supporters at Capital One Arena are used to this season after handing away a +16 lead to Denver at the beginning of the second half.Wes Unseld Jr.’s team narrowed the deficit to +9, but Nikola Jokic, who was dominating beneath the basket, ended the quarter with double digits (38 points and 10 rebounds), dash all hopes Washingtоn had.The score remained still open for the last few minutes of play at 78-89 at the conclusion of the third quarter.Jokic was supposed to take a break from the game in the final quarter, but Michael Malone forced the Serbian back into the floor as the Wizards cut the lead to 9 points (89-97) with little over 6 minutes left.