National Basketball Association
Preview
Denver at Washington
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 7, 2024
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, District of Columbia

Washington will look to avoid a franchise-record losing streak when it hosts the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in Washington, D.C.

The Wizards have lost 16 in a row, tying a franchise record initially set in the 2009-10 season. They stand last in the Eastern Conference, but coach Brian Keefe trusts it's all part of the maturation process for a young team.

"These guys believe in what we're doing, they believe in the process," Keefe said Thursday night after a 137-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. "We're building some habits that are important and we have to build them when times are tough. Every team has their moments, it's how you deal with those moments, but I've always believed in the character of our team."

Only one of the 16 losses has been by less than double digits, a nine-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 13. Three of the past four losses have been by 25 points or more.

It's the second straight season the Wizards have lost 16 games in a row, making them only the sixth NBA team to have losing streaks of that length in consecutive years. The NBA record for a single-season losing streak is 28, set by the Detroit Pistons last season.

Wizards second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly has struggled, in particular. He was 0-of-10 from the floor against the Mavericks, and in the past four games, is 4-of-31 from the field and 1-of-12 from 3-point range.

Keefe expressed confidence in Coulibaly.

"I think he's a little out of rhythm, sometimes different things can cause some of that," Keefe said. "Sometimes you have to go through those things in a season and in your career. I have great faith in his character and who he is. He will get out of this."

Jordan Poole leads the Wizards with 20 points a game and five assists. No. 1 pick Alexandre Sarr is averaging 10.6 points per game playing 26.8 minutes a game. The Wizards also have the toughest schedule in the league in December, according to NBA.com.

"I embrace the challenges," Keefe said. "The schedule is the schedule. You have to go after it and I think that's what our group is about."

Denver has alternated wins and losses over its past eight games and stands eighth in the Western Conference. They gave up 22 3-pointers in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night while only making six.

The Nuggets have yet to capture the flow that has made the team an NBA power over the past two seasons.

"We're a team that's trying to find itself," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "I think everyone has to own where they're at, where we're at, and it starts with me as the head coach to look in the mirror and say what can I do better and how can I help this team more."

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets with 29.9 points and tops the NBA with 13.4 rebounds. Five different Nuggets are averaging at least 15 points per game, but defensively, the Nuggets rank 24th in the NBA allowing 116.8 points a night.

This will be the 101st meeting of the two franchises. Denver has won the past six matchups.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div Conf
Denver 11-9 L1 6-4 5-5 0-2 11-7 3-2 7-7
Washington 2-18 L16 1-9 1-9 0-1 2-17 2-3 2-12
Last Meeting
Denver Washington
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
2/22/24 WAS 110 DEN 130 130 60 55.4 110 40 38.5
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Denver M. Porter Jr. 22 56.2 2
Washington K. Kuzma 31 48.0 1
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Denver N. Jokic 19 2 17
Washington K. Kuzma 12 6 6
Assists Player  
Denver N. Jokic 15
Washington T. Jones 14
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
Denver N. Jokic 568 55.9 96
Washington J. Poole 418 43.4 75
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
Denver N. Jokic 264 75 189
Washington J. Valanciunas 174 52 122
Assists Player  
Denver N. Jokic 198
Washington J. Poole 108
Quickchart Matchup
Denver Denver Off vs  Washington Washington Defense
Denver Off vs Washington - Points For 117.8 Points For
Denver Off vs Washington - Points Against 123.5 Points Against
Denver - FG% 48.6 FG%
Washington - FG% 48.4 FG%
Denver - Reb 44.4 Reb
Washington - Reb 48.1 Reb
Washington Washington Off vs  Denver Denver Defense
Washington Off vs Denver - Points For 106.7 Points For
Washington Off vs Denver - Points Against 116.8 Points Against
Washington - FG% 43.8 FG%
Denver - FG% 47.0 FG%
Washington - Reb 42.3 Reb
Denver - Reb 44.4 Reb