Poole’s Last-Second Shot Lifts Wizards Over Nuggets in Thrilling Finish

DENVER, CO — Jordan Poole sunk a 3-pointer with just 2.1 seconds remaining to secure a dramatic 126-123 victory for the Washington Wizards over the Denver Nuggets Saturday night at Ball Arena.

Poole, who finished with 19 points, delivered the game-winner after an intense back-and-forth encounter that saw both teams exchange leads. Wizards’ standout Alex Sarr led the scoring for Washington, recording a career-high 34 points along with six rebounds and five assists.

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic delivered a tremendous performance, scoring 40 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Despite Jokic’s efforts, the team ultimately fell short against the struggling Wizards, who improved to 15-51 for the season, tying them for the fewest wins in the NBA.

The match began at a frenetic pace, with both squads finding scoring opportunities. Washington faced challenges early, struggling with ball control, allowing the Nuggets to gain momentum through easy baskets in the paint. Yet as the first quarter progressed, Jokic’s scoring prowess helped Denver establish a lead of up to 16 points before finishing the quarter up 44-30.

Entering the second quarter, Denver’s bench struggled to maintain the offensive flow, allowing Washington to chip into their lead. When the Nuggets’ lead diminished to seven, coach Michael Malone called a timeout, using a surge of energy from players Peyton Watson and Zeke Nnaji, who blocked multiple shots from Sarr. However, Washington responded with several three-pointers, cutting the deficit to just four.

Despite Denver’s turnovers and missed shot opportunities, they entered halftime leading 72-63 after a more effective offensive display in the latter moments of the second quarter. Washington capitalized on their shooting in the second half to narrow the gap and eventually tied the game at 77.

As the contest reached its climax, both teams struggled offensively, yet a series of clutch plays kept the game competitive. The final moments were action-packed, with Westbrook’s layup briefly giving Denver a lead before Poole’s deep 3-pointer sealed the Wizards’ victory, stunning the Nuggets.

“It was just a matter of making the shot, and I was grateful it went in,” said Poole after the game. His teammate, Sarr, noted, “We knew we had to fight back, and we did just that.”

Denver now faces a challenging road ahead, taking on the Golden State Warriors in their next matchup, while the Wizards will aim to build on their momentum against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.

This loss marks another disappointing chapter for the Nuggets as they now head into a stretch of four consecutive road games, and questions loom about their ability to handle the pressure under playoff contention.