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 Whether Robinson, the Denver Nuggets' point guard, made a clean
steal on Wall, the Washington Wizards' point guard, was up for
debate postgame, but both offenses were guilty of scuffling. The
Nuggets had no issues with the final verdict.
Small forward Wilson Chandler scored 17 points and Robinson had 16
as Denver outlasted Washington during a low-scoring second half for
a 75-74 win Monday night.
The Nuggets (13-8) won despite finishing with their lowest point
total of the season, committing 22 turnovers and trailing by 12
points in the second half.
Washington helped by scoring 29 points in the second half and
failing to make a field goal over the final four minutes.
Playing their second straight game without point guard and leading
scorer Ty Lawson, Denver wrapped up its six-game road trip with a
4-2 record.
Wall had 20 points and eight assists for the Wizards (9-11), but he
missed four shots inside the final 2:31 and committed a turnover on
the final possession.
After Nuggets forward Kenneth Faired missed two free throws with 4.3
seconds remaining, Robinson jarred the ball away from a driving Wall
before the Wizards star could attempt a shot.
"We got to make it tough for him," Robinson said of Wall. "He's a
great scorer, and we tried to make everyone else on their team score
the ball. It worked."
Whether Robinson made a clean strip was up for debate.
"Same that was happening all game, but I didn't get a call," Wall
said. "Nate Robinson was grabbing my arm every time I went by him.
That's how I lost the ball. No call, and we lose a tough game that
way."
Robinson finished with four steals.
"You got to be scrappy, do whatever it takes to win," he said.
Asked directly if fouled Wall, Robinson replied, "I'm gonna let you
all make that decision."
Faried, who scored six points, dunked with 32.7 seconds left to put
Denver ahead moments after he blocked a Wall layup attempt.
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Led by Robinson, the Nuggets' reserves outscored Washington's
bench 34-5.
"Our bench has been tremendous really this whole season," Denver
coach Brian Shaw said. "They have bailed us out of a lot of
situations."
Both teams were short-handed in their first of two meetings this
season.
The Wizards were without starting forwards Martell Webster
(sprained left ankle) and Nene (right foot tendinitis).
Center Marcin Gortan scored 16 points, and forward Trevor Booker
had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who lost their
second game in a row, both at home. Washington shot 36 percent
from the field and 5-for-24 (20.8 percent) on 3-point attempts.
With Washington guard Bradley Beal still out due to a lower-leg
injury, coach Randy Wittman had scant perimeter or bench
options. Seldom-used rookie swingman Glen Rice Jr. made his
first NBA start and scored seven points.
"It was a tough night offensively," Wizards coach Randy Wittman
said. "We've got to get more than five points from our bench.
We've got to get more production and not just from four, five
guys."
The battle of backups turned into a battle of offensive
attrition in the second half after Washington led 45-40 at
halftime and 58-46 in the third quarter. Denver ultimately
outscored the Wizards 18-15 in the third and 17-14 in the
fourth. Neither team led by more than four points inside the
final six minutes.
NOTES: Denver's previous low point total was 88 against the
Cavaliers in Cleveland on Dec. 4. ... Nuggets G Andre Miller
made his second consecutive start in place of Ty Lawson
(hamstring). ... Wizards G Bradley Beal was cleared to increase
basketball activities after a follow-up MRI exam showed
improvement in the stress injury to his right fibula.
Washington's leading scorer missed his seventh game Monday. The
team also announced that F Al Harrington would miss four weeks
after undergoing a procedure to clear out loose particles in his
right knee Wednesday. The veteran last played Nov. 12. ... The
Denver bench entered Monday ranked second in the NBA with an
average of 45.3 points per game. ... Both teams are off until
Friday when the Nuggets host the Utah Jazz and the Wizards
travel to face the Atlanta Hawks.
[© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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