WASHINGTON -- Emmanuel Mudiay couldn't stop marveling about John Wall.
"He said to me during the game, `Man, John Wall is the quickest guy I've ever played against," Denver coach Michael Malone said. "And I said, `You're not even guarding him, Gary Harris is."
The Nuggets' young starting guards held their own against an NBA All-Star.
Mudiay scored 20 points, Harris helped hold Wall to 5-of-17 shooting, and the Nuggets beat the Washington Wizards 117-113 on Thursday night.
Harris is just 20 and Mudiay, who a year ago was playing in China, is 21. They helped the Nuggets send the Wizards to their fifth loss in six games.
Wall, chosen for his third All-Star Game on Thursday, missed five of his seven 3-pointers.
"Definitely felt good, about time," Mudiay said. "I think we're better on the road than we are at home right now."
Mudiay is right. The Nuggets actually have a slightly better record on the road (9-14) than they have at home (9-15).
Danilo Gallinari scored 26 points to lead Denver. He hit four of his five 3-pointers. The Nuggets were 9 for 18 from 3-point range.
After the Wizards, who have lost five of six, clawed back from an 18-point, third-quarter deficit to tie the game at 99-all, Harris and Gallinari hit consecutive 3-pointers for a 105-99 lead with 3:16 to go.
Wall had 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Washington had seven players score in double figures, but it wasn't enough.
"It's nothing offensively," Wall said. "We just can't guard a soul."
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Denver played without F/C Joffrey Luvergne (toe). ... The Nuggets had lost their three previous back-to-backs.
Wizards: F Otto Porter left the game in the third quarter with hip tightness. . Wall's streak of 10 or more assists ended after five games. ... The Wizards were introduced as the Baltimore Bullets and wore uniforms representing the franchise's home from 1963-73.