WASHINGTON -- Neither the Denver Nuggets nor Washington Wizards will enter Thursdays first head-to-head matchup feeling upbeat.The Nuggets (8-14) lost 116-111 Wednesday night on the road to a five-win Brooklyn Nets. At least Denver can take pride in rallying from a 29-point deficit as they outscored Brooklyn 48-24 over the final 17:56. Despite that late effort and closing within 111-109 with 16.9 seconds, the Nuggets lost for the fourth time in five games.I told our team at halftime that Brooklyn was on pace for 84 points in the paint, which just shows signs of no resistance, no fight, Denver coach Mike Malone said. But I tell you, I am proud of our guys, getting down by 29 points and cutting it to three or four, whatever it was late. We got a couple of good shots that just didnt go down for us but we didnt roll over. Twenty-nine points didnt become 50 and Im happy about that.There was anything but happiness for the Wizards (7-13) following Tuesdays 124-116 loss to the Orlando Magic. John Wall scored a career-high 52 points, but had little help most of the game. The real issues for Washington, which has lost three of four, came defensively. The Magic set a season high for points in the win.Not even just defensive effort, just playing hard, Wall said. Our job is to wake up and just play hard. Before you made it to the NBA or got a college scholarship, you played hard to get where you wanted to get to. To still be talking about playing hard. ... Thats the easiest thing. Shouldnt have to do with any contracts or any money. Just come in and play basketball.Asked why that isnt happening, Wall said, I dont know. If I had the answers we wouldnt be in this situation right now.Orlando shot 51.8 percent overall from the field, 12 of 26 from beyond the arc and led by as many as 20 points.We have to be able to sustain a sense of urgency possession by possession, Brooks continued. It was spotty at best. Until we do that, were going to put ourselves in a bad position.Wilson Chandler led the Nuggets with 27 points against the Nets. He also led the comeback, which began soon after Malone was ejected for arguing a foul with an official as Denver trailed by 21 points midway through the third quarter.When he got ejected, that was the plan, to try to get something going, Chandler said. We were down. There was nothing happening and I think that kind of lit a fire under us.Led by Chandler, the Nuggets bench scored 70 points against the Nets, which is three less than the 73 the Magics second unit scored against Wizards.Denver averaged 116.5 points during a two-game sweep over Washington last season. Cheap Custom Rockies Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Custom Todd Helton Jersey . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. http://www.customrockiesjersey.com/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Authentic Custom Rockies Jersey . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Todd Helton Jersey Large .Y. -- Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers had no intention of changing his hard-hitting style before taking part in a disciplinary hearing for his illegal check to New Jersey forward Dainius Zubrus head. Thursday, Ryen Russillo and Danny Kanell welcome rapper T.I. (1:30 p.m. ET), ESPN NFL analyst Damien Woody (2:00), SEC Networks Booger McFarland (3:00) and ESPN New York 98.7 FMs Peter Rosenberg (3:30).Todays main topics:? Giants defeat Mets in NL wild card? Cardinals-49ers previewText us at 773776 (msg&data rates may apply) or tweet us at twitter.ddddddddddddcom/RussilloShow -- well be with you from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio and ESPNRadio.com. ' ' '