Pro Sports

Beal hits late free throws, Wizards edge Nuggets 130-128

Posted February 18, 2021 6:00 am

By RICH DUBROFF

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket against Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Gary Harris (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Bradley Beal made two free throws with a tenth of a second left to give the Washington Wizards their third straight victory, 130-128 over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.

Davis Bertans had career highs with nine 3-pointers and 35 points, Beal finished with 25 points and a season-high 10 assists, and Russell Westbrook had a triple-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. Washington has won three straight for the first time since Dec. 1-5, 2018.

'œWhen those shots went down, they started looking for me even more, running more plays for me, and I took advantage of that,'ť Bertans said. 'œMy shots are falling, and sometimes there's not much the defense can do.'ť

Denver coach Michael Malone wasn't pleased with his team's defense.

'œObviously, Bertans killed us tonight,'ť Malone said. 'œHe comes off the bench to go 9 for 11 from 3 for 35 points. That guy is supposed to be a guy that's not supposed to get off 11 shots from the 3-point line.'ť

Jamal Murray led Denver with 35 points, and Nikola Jokic scored 33 points. Murray scored Denver's final 11 points, with his 3-pointer tying it at 128 with 2.1 seconds left.

Coming off a loss at Boston on Tuesday night, Denver allowed its highest points total of the season. The Nuggets had a 39-19 lead late in the first quarter, but it quickly vanished.

'œWe were up 20,'ť Jokic said. 'œWe didn't play any defense. We can not have that many letups.'ť

Jokic scored 10 points in the first 3 ˆ½ minutes and 15 in the first quarter, and then coach Scott Brooks put Robin Lopez on him.

'œMy goal is just to try to make him not quite as comfortable,'ť Lopez said. 'œHe's somebody that likes to be really sneaky and really clever out there.'ť

TIP-INS

Nuggets: F Paul Millsap missed his second straight game because of a strained left knee. Malone said he hasn't gotten 'œa real clear picture'ť of how long Millsap will be out. '¦ G Gary Harris returned after missing seven games with a strained left abductor. '¦ F Monte Morris, who missed Tuesday night's game at Boston with a strained right shoulder also returned.

Wizards: G Ish Smith will miss six to eight weeks with a right quadriceps injury. 'œThat's a big chunk of the season,'ť coach Scott Brooks said. ... Westbrook was assessed a technical foul in the fourth quarter.

BEAL WAITING ON ALL-STAR CALL

Beal has twice been an All-Star, and he'll find out on Thursday if he'll get a third invitation. He was disappointed that he wasn't selected last season.

'œWhen I first picked up a basketball, it wasn't to win a trophy,'ť Beal said. 'œIt wasn't to win someone's approval. It wasn't to win someone's vote.'ť

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS FOR BERTANS

Before the season, Bertans signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension with Washington, and hadn't been playing well. Entering the game, he was hitting on 34.9% of his 3-pointers.

'œThose couple of months have been frustrating as hell,'ť Bertans said. 'œI can't sleep at night.'ť

UP NEXT

Nuggets: At Charlotte on Friday night

Wizards: At Portland on Saturday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and center Alex Len (27) react during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards center Robin Lopez, center, falls with the ball in front of Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) loses grip of the ball as he was fouled by Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) goes to the basket against Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo (7) and forward JaMychal Green (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, and Washington Wizards center Robin Lopez, right, fight for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. Also seen is Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1). (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards center Robin Lopez, back, and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) battle for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. Also seen are Wizards forward Davis Bertans (42) and guard Bradley Beal, bottom. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook (4) passes the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and forward JaMychal Green, right, battle for the ball against Washington Wizards center Alex Len, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) and center Alex Len, left, give high fives after an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. The Wizards won 130-128. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

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