WASHINGTON — Forward Danilo Gallinari scored 26 points and the Denver Nuggets spoiled the announcement of Washington Wizards guard John Wall’s third straight NBA All-Star appearance with a 117-113 victory Thursday.
Guard Emmanuel Mudiay had 20 points and center Nikola Jokic finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Nuggets (18-29), who had lost two straight and four of six. Despite zero All-Star selections and blowing an 18-point second half lead, Denver prevailed by shooting 50.6 percent from the field including 9 of 18 on 3-point attempts
Guard Garrett Temple led the Wizards (20-24) with 20 points. Washington had seven double figure scorers, but lost its third straight game. Wall and guard Bradley Beal each scored 17 points.
Leading 64-58 at halftime, the Nuggets opened the third quarter with a 19-7 run as Gallinari’s third 3-pointer in that span put Denver up 83-65.
Washington chipped away at the deficit before tying the game 99-99 on guard Ramon Sessions’ 3-point play after a steal with 5:41 remaining. Denver countered and went back in front for good with back-to-back 3-pointers by guard Gary Harris and Gallinari, who finished 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
The Wizards lost their last two games by a combined 42 points including Tuesday’s 106-89 setback at the Toronto Raptors without Beal. Washington has lost four of five at home.
Wall was named to the 2016 NBA All-Star game in Toronto, the league announced Thursday night. Wall, who is second in the NBA in assists and Washington’s leading scorer, will make his second appearance as a reserve for the Eastern Conference.
Against the Nuggets, his shot didn’t show as he finished 5 of 17 from the field.
Beal played with a protective mask after suffering a broken nose in Monday’s 116-91 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Denver is 9-4 over its last 13 games in Washington. Guard Will Barton also scored 15 points.
Washington stuck with a defensive-oriented lineup featuring big men Nene and Gortat for the fourth straight game. Denver responded by shooting better than 52 percent from the field in the first half.
Wizards starting forward Otto Porter only played 15 minutes, finishing with two points. He left in the second half with hip tightness and did not return.
NOTES: Nuggets C Joffrey Lauvergne missed his second straight game with a toe injury. … Various alumni, including Bernard King and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, attended the Wizards’ “Throwback” night. The scene included uniform and scoreboard references to Baltimore Bullets, a nod to the franchise’s roots. … Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr. is the son of Wes Sr., who played for Baltimore and was named NBA Finals MVP when the Washington Bullets won the title in 1978. … The two teams will close out the season series on March 12 in Denver. … Denver concludes its three-game road trip Saturday at the Indiana Pacers. The Nuggets won the previous meeting with Indiana 129-126 at home on Jan. 17. The Wizards play at the Houston Rockets Saturday.