'EVERYBODY'S FAULT' IN NUGGETS SHOCKER

Jokic's career-high 56 points not enough as Poole-led Wizards end their 16-game losing spell

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WASHINGTON - Nikola Jokic joked that he did not mind having his salary deducted after the Denver Nuggets lost their second straight National Basketball Association (NBA) game on Dec 7. But, in reality, he would be the last person on the team to deserve such treatment, not when he exploded for 56 points.

It was not enough, however, as Washington withstood the Serb's impressive performance to beat the Nuggets 122-113 at home and snap the Wizards' 16-game losing streak.

Jokic, who won his third NBA Most Valuable Player award last season, posted a career scoring high - surpassing a 53-point performance in Game 4 of the 2023 Western Conference semi-finals against Phoenix.

He added 16 rebounds and eight assists but it was all to no avail as Washington, buoyed by 39 points from Jordan Poole, won for the first time since Oct 30.

"I think today and the last couple games were really bad for us," Jokic said, as quoted by the Associated Press. "We are really going in the wrong direction. I think it's everybody's fault.