NBA: Nikola Jokic reaches a career-high 56 points, but the Denver Nuggets lose to the Washington Wizards

Nikola Jokic’s career-high 56 points wasn’t enough to secure victory for the Denver Nuggets as they lost 113-122 to the Washington Wizards.

Three-time MVP Jokic scored the second-most points in a game in league history, behind only David Thompson’s 73-point performance in 1978.

But the Wizards, who led from the first half, held off the Nuggets and Jokic, ending their 16-game losing streak at Capital One Arena.

Wizards shooting guard Jordan Poole scored 39 points and made nine three-pointers, the most of his career, while Justin Champagnie scored 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.

The Wizards, who hadn’t won since Oct. 30, were without Alexandre Sarr, while the Nuggets traveled to Washington without injured Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Aaron Gordon (calf).

The Serbian Jokic scored 56 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.

He set his career high two days after passing NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson on the all-time triple-double list with 139 – the third-highest total in league history.

The loss leaves the Nuggets in ninth place in the Western Conference, having lost 10 of their 21 games.

Elsewhere, Evan Mobley scored a career-high 41 points for the league leaders Cleveland Cavaliers in a 116-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the reigning champions Boston Celtics, The Detroit Pistons overcome that New York Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks claimed victory over the Raptors in Toronto.

Find all of Saturday’s NBA results here.