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Nuggets sneak past Wizards

Jan 21, 2012 - 4:56 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Al Harrington had 29 points and made a big three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, as the Denver Nuggets snuck past the Washington Wizards, 108-104.

Harrington also pulled down seven rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won three in a row. Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari added 21 points apiece, with the former adding nine boards and six assists.

"We've got to keep it rolling," Lawson said. "We have one more in New York."

Nick Young ended with 25 points for the Wizards, who fell to 2-13 on the season. Jordan Crawford tallied 18 points and six rebounds.

John Wall had 13 points, 10 assists and nine boards for Washington, which failed to build off Wednesday's win over Oklahoma City. JaVale McGee donated 13 points and seven rebounds.

Trailing by one, 98-97, with 4:07 to play in the fourth, the Nuggets ripped off six straight points. Chris Andersen made 1-of-2 free throws before Arron Afflalo put in a layup. After Young missed a three-pointer, Harrington made a shot from beyond the arc with the shot clock winding down to give Denver a 103-98 edge with 1:14 left.

Crawford stopped the surge with a short jumper. Harrington missed a three- pointer at the other end, but Lawson pulled down the rebound and put in an easy layup.

Holding a 106-104 lead, Harrington put the game away on a slam with 7.2 seconds remaining.

"We're competing at a good level but now we've got to close out games," Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said.

Down by three, 17-14, with 5:47 left in the first quarter, the Wizards put together a 13-2 run. Young had four points during the surge, which Shelvin Mack capped with short jumper for a 27-19 edge with 2:52 to go.

Young made a pair of three-pointers in the final 1 1/2 minutes of the period to give Washington a 37-27 margin. Young tallied 17 points over the first 12 minutes.

Denver made things tight during the middle stages of the second quarter with a 15-7 flurry. Lawson's three-pointer with 2:41 remaining made it 58-58.

The Wizards held a 63-61 margin at the half.

Down by one, 71-70, with 8:12 left in the third frame, the Nuggets went on a 13-4 run. Harrington tallied eight points during the burst, including a three-pointer with 3:20 remaining to give Denver an 83-75 lead.

The visitors took an 86-81 margin into the fourth, but Washington scored the first five points of the final stanza to tie the game.

Game Notes

Denver has won four straight and nine of the last 10 meetings in the series... Nuggets forward Nene missed the game with a bruised right heel. Timofey Mozgov and Rudy Fernandez both returned to the lineup for Denver...Chris Singleton had 12 points for Washington.