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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DENVER – Mitch Richmond scored a season-high 29 points and
hit a clutch shot in the final seconds as the Washington Wizards
snapped a six-game losing streak with a 101-98 victory over the
Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.
Juwan Howard added 21 points and Richard Hamilton had 18 for the
Wizards, who improved to just 5-23 on the road this season.
Washington has won four straight in Denver.
Antonio McDyess led Denver with 29 points, and Nick Van Exel had
18 points and 15 assists but missed a desperation 3-pointer as the
buzzer sounded.
Denver, which dropped to 21-7 at home, got within a point on
McDyess' dunk with 28 seconds left, but Richmond hit a fadeaway
jumper over Van Exel from 16 feet with six seconds remaining for
the game's final basket.
Richmond scored Washington's final six points and finished
11-for-16 from the field.
After trailing throughout the second half, Denver took a 91-90
lead on two free throws by McDyess with 5:01 remaining. Washington
scored the next five points, three coming on free throws after Ryan
Bowen grazed Chris Whitney on a 3-point attempt.
As Whitney went to the foul line, Nuggets coach Dan Issel argued
with veteran referee Jess Kersey.
"We penalize this kid because he plays the game the way it's
supposed to be played," Issel yelled.
Bowen, hustling defensively and offensively, had four points,
three rebounds, a block and a steal in nine minutes to help the
Nuggets keep the game close on a night when they seemed to lack
energy and emotion.
After Bowen's foul, Denver never led again.
Three days after tying a franchise low with seven points in the
second quarter, the Nuggets sputtered again after a 33-point first
quarter.
The Wizards scored the first 10 points of the second before
Robert Pack ended Denver's drought with a driving layup 7:18 before
halftime. The Nuggets were 7-of-22 with seven turnovers in the
quarter and trailed 53-48 at the break.
Game notes
Pack returned after missing two games with a sprained right
toe. ... Washington led at halftime for only the fifth time in 28
road games. ... Whitney was 3-of-5 on 3-pointers after going
1-for-11 in his previous three games. ... Richmond moved past Tom
Chambers (20,049 points) for 25th on the career scoring list. ...
Washington, which lost at Dallas on Saturday night, is 4-11 in the
second of back-to-back games. ... Denver had won 10 of 11 at home.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Washington Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
RECAPS
San Antonio 92
Toronto 74
Philadelphia 104
Phoenix 98
New Jersey 102
LA Clippers 96
Utah 94
Sacramento 90
Vancouver 110
Minnesota 102
Indiana 110
LA Lakers 109
Orlando 96
New York 88
Washington 101
Denver 98
Atlanta 98
Golden State 91
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