Nuggets Film Room: Late defensive breakdown ends Denver's night

Take away the questionable technical foul sequence with 32 seconds left in the Nuggets’ Monday night loss to the Wizards that put Washington ahead by two points and Denver still had a chance to get a stop and a score to win the game.

After the technical, the Nuggets inserted Kenneth Faried for Nikola Jokic, presumably for defensive purposes. Bradley Beal converted the ensuing free-throw and Washington led by three. On their next possession, the Wizards got Beal lose off a Mike Scott pindown which Beal then curled off of and found a clear lane to the hoop.

Here’s the play in its entirety:

The Nuggets defend Washington’s first action well. Gary Harris switches onto John Wall by design and shadows him out to near halfcourt. Jamal Murray, who’s now defending Beal gets bumped by a Scott screen but fights through it enough to stay somewhat attached to Beal’s hip.

Beal comes off the screen and has a good amount of momentum going towards the basket, but Murray is still right with him. Faried, who’s defending Scott is also in good position ready to help if Beal gets a step on Murray.

But Beal gets by Murray who gets caught on his heels and gives him a lane to the rim and Faried, who was in great position to help, takes a step back towards his man Scott on the perimeter which takes him out of the play. Millsap, who has to keep his eye on Kelly Oubre in the corner, can’t get over to help either.

This sequence from Washington was a game-clinching play that pushed the Wizards’ lead to five and made it a two-possession game after Beal’s layup. Denver drops to 1-2 on the year with the loss.

While the Nuggets’ defense has looked improved at times this season and they’ve actually held opponents to 101 points per 100 possessions — the 11th best mark in the league — Denver has to clean up their late-game execution if they want to close out winnable games over quality, playoff-caliber opponents like the Wizards.