Denver Nuggets Face Washington Wizards Amid Injuries And High Stakes

The Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards squared off for their final regular-season meeting on January 22, 2026, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., as two teams on very different trajectories met under the bright lights of the NBA. The Nuggets, sitting at 29-15 and third in the Western Conference, entered the contest with a mix of confidence and caution, having weathered a storm of injuries but still keeping their playoff ambitions alive. The Wizards, meanwhile, found themselves mired in a seven-game losing streak and tied for the NBA's fewest wins at 10-32, desperately searching for answers in a season that's felt like a never-ending uphill climb.

Tipoff arrived at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, and the air in the arena was thick with anticipation—could the Nuggets continue their road dominance, or would the Wizards finally snap their skid? Fans tuning in locally on Altitude Sports and Monumental Sports Network, or streaming through NBA League Pass and Amazon Prime Video, were treated to a matchup where every possession seemed to carry extra weight for both franchises.

Denver’s injury woes have been the talk of the league. Superstar center Nikola Jokic, who had been averaging a jaw-dropping 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 11 assists per game, remained sidelined with a knee injury suffered on December 29, 2025. He wasn’t alone in the infirmary: Cameron Johnson (knee), Christian Braun (ankle), and Tamar Bates (foot) were also out, while Jonas Valanciunas (calf), Jamal Murray (ankle/illness), Tim Hardaway Jr. (knee), and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) were all listed as probable or questionable heading into the contest. The Wizards, too, were battered, missing Trae Young (quadriceps), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Tristan Vukcevic (knee), and Bilal Coulibaly (back). Marvin Bagley III and AJ Johnson were questionable with illness, further depleting an already thin rotation.

Despite these setbacks, Denver’s resilience has been remarkable. Since Jokic’s injury, the Nuggets had managed to win seven of their last 12 games—a testament to their depth and adaptability. Their offense, while not quite the juggernaut it was with Jokic orchestrating, still boasted a top-15 efficiency rating over that span. Perhaps most impressively, Denver had committed the fewest turnovers in the NBA during this stretch and ranked fifth in three-point shooting percentage. The team’s ability to generate open looks and take care of the basketball kept them competitive in a cutthroat Western Conference.

Jamal Murray, long considered Jokic’s sidekick, has stepped up in a big way. In the superstar’s absence, Murray averaged 28.7 points and 8.8 assists per game. His most recent performance against Washington—a 42-point explosion on January 17, 2026—reminded everyone of his capacity to take over games. Tim Hardaway Jr. provided a huge lift off the bench in that contest, pouring in 30 points, while Peyton Watson continued his breakout, adding 21 points. Watson, in particular, has emerged as a crucial piece for Denver, averaging over 22 points per game in his expanded role and exceeding 17.5 points in 11 of the last 12 games. With Aaron Gordon’s return, Watson’s scoring touch has only improved, as he’s eclipsed the 17.5-point mark in eight straight games with Gordon in the lineup.

On the Wizards’ side, the struggles have been all too familiar. After shipping out CJ McCollum in a blockbuster trade for the injured Trae Young, Washington’s offense has sputtered and its defense has been even worse, ranking dead last in net rating. The team’s young core—led by Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr—has shown flashes of potential but lacks the veteran leadership needed to close out games. In their previous meeting with Denver, George led the way with 29 points, while Sarr and Khris Middleton added 16 apiece. Despite a valiant effort, the Wizards ultimately fell short, 121-115, in a game that remained within reach into the final minutes.

Washington’s woes continued in their most recent outing, a 110-106 loss to the LA Clippers on January 19, 2026. Sarr once again paced the team with 28 points, George chipped in 18, and the Wizards moved the ball well, racking up 27 assists. But the inability to execute in crunch time has become a recurring theme. As one analyst put it, "The Wizards have young talent, but no real leader on the floor, once again creating a scenario where Denver can close out a win in the final minutes."

Vegas oddsmakers reflected the disparity between the teams, making Denver a 5.5 to 6.5-point favorite, with the over/under hovering around 227 to 229.5 points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates NBA games 10,000 times, predicted the total would go over 227.5 points, projecting a combined 240 points and favoring Denver to cover the spread in over 60% of simulations. Recent history between the teams also pointed to a high-scoring affair: each of the last four meetings had seen at least 235 combined points, with the most recent contest tallying 236.

For Denver, the game represented an opportunity to extend a four-game road winning streak and solidify their standing near the top of the West, all while navigating a brutal stretch without their MVP. For Washington, it was a chance to snap out of a funk and prove that their young guns could rise to the occasion against elite competition. As tipoff approached, questions swirled: Would Murray continue his torrid scoring pace? Could Peyton Watson seize the spotlight yet again? And might the Wizards, battered and bruised, finally find a way to finish strong?

Fans and analysts alike kept a close eye on the injury report, knowing full well that availability could swing the outcome. Jonas Valanciunas’s return for Denver added a wrinkle to the frontcourt rotation, while the Wizards’ questionable players remained game-time decisions. With both teams short-handed, the contest promised an unpredictable, up-tempo style—and no shortage of drama.

As action unfolded at Capital One Arena, the Nuggets’ disciplined offense and the Wizards’ youthful energy collided in a game that, while perhaps not a marquee matchup on paper, carried significant implications for both franchises. For Denver, it was about survival and asserting their identity without Jokic. For Washington, it was about pride, development, and, maybe, just maybe, halting a slide that had tested the patience of their most loyal fans.

With the game ongoing, all eyes remain on the hardwood in D.C. Will the Nuggets’ depth and experience prevail, or can the Wizards pull off a much-needed upset? One thing’s clear: in the NBA, anything can happen on any given night.