Deni Avdija's season-best no match for Jokic's near-triple-double and the Nuggets / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix | Basketnews illustration Credit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix | Basketnews illustration

Nikola Jokic had 29 points to eclipse 10,000 for his career and added 13 rebounds and eight assists, Bones Hyland scored 17, and the visiting Denver Nuggets (42-28) beat the Washington Wizards (29-39) 127-109 (34-28, 39-24, 31-29, 23-28) on Wednesday night.

Player of the Game EFF 44 Nikola Jokic Points 29 Accuracy 10-14 Rebounds 13 Assists 8

Monte Morris scored 15 points, DeMarcus Cousins and Aaron Gordon had 14 apiece, Austin Rivers added 13 and Bryn Forbes finished with 10 for Denver.

The Nuggets have won seven in a row on the road to set a franchise record. Their last loss away from home was Feb. 11 at Boston.

They tied the franchise record for most road wins in a season with 22.

Deni Avdija had 19, Kristaps Porzingis scored 16, Corey Kispert added 15 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Rui Hachimura had 12 apiece for Washington, which has lost five straight.

Denver went ahead early in the game and never lost the lead. The Wizards were within 16-13 midway through the first quarter before the Nuggets stretched it to eight on a 3-pointer by Morris and a three-point play by Rivers made it 32-21.

Washington cut the deficit to 34-28 after the first quarter, but Denver pulled away in the second.

Forbes opened the quarter by being fouled on a successful 3-pointer and hit the free throw to convert the four-point play. Cousins made two shots and Rivers and Hyland had layups to cap a 13-0 run to start the second.

The Wizards scored five straight points but the Nuggets went on an 8-2 run to lead by 21 and took a 73-52 advantage into halftime.

The teams traded baskets at the start of the third quarter, with Denver taking a 23-point lead on a floating jumper by Morris. After Porzingis made a driving layup Morris drained another 3-pointer and Jokic a layup and free throw to make it 94-67 with 4:08 left in the third.

Hyland made a 30-foot 3-pointer late in the period to give the Nuggets a 104-76 lead, their largest of the night.

Washington was able to cut the deficit to 112-92 with 7:03 left in the game but never seriously threatened the lead.

Wizards: Deni Avdija 19 (7/9 2PT, 5/6 FT, 7 REB), Kristaps Porzingis 16 (5/8 2PT, 6/9 FT, 7 REB, 3 BLK), Corey Kispert 15 (4/5 2PT, 2/5 3PT), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 12 (2/5 3PT), Rui Hachimura 12 (6/10 2PT, 0/5 3PT, 7 REB),.

Nuggets: Nikola Jokic 29 (8/12 2PT, 2/2 3PT, 7/7 FT, 13 REB, 8 AST), Nah'Shon Hyland 17 (4/6 2PT, 2/4 3PT, 6 REB, 5 AST), Monte Morris 15 (3/7 3PT, 4 AST), Aaron Gordon 14 (5/11 2PT), DeMarcus Cousins 12 (5/8 2PT, 5 REB), Austin Rivers 13 (2/4 3PT).

Full game highlights:

Nikola Jokic highlights:

Deni Avdija highlights:

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