Nuggets, Wizards square off at Verizon Center

Washington opened the homestand with a tough loss. On Saturday, Yao Ming scored 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Houston Rockets withstood a 41-point barrage by Gilbert Arenas to hold on for a 114-109 road victory over the Wizards.

Antawn Jamison scored 27 and pulled down 11 boards in the loss to Houston for the Wizards, who had a three-game winning streak halted. Caron Butler scored 17 and grabbed 10 boards for Washington.

The Wizards are 7-3 at home this season. They are scheduled to host Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat on Friday in the finale of the current homestand.

Denver plays the third of a five-game road trip. Carmelo Anthony had 26 points and Earl Boykins tallied 19 points to lead the Denver Nuggets over the Atlanta Hawks, 100-87, on Tuesday at Philips Arena.

Boykins registered 12 of his points during a 29-4 run that spanned the final two quarters, as the Nuggets turned an eight-point deficit into a 17-point lead. J.R. Smith added 17 points for the Nuggets, who have won two of their last three games overall.

The Nuggets are 5-3 on the road this season. They will visit the Boston Celtics on Friday and the New York Knicks on Saturday.

This is the first of two meetings between the Nuggets and Wizards this season. Denver is scheduled to host Washington on December 18th at the Pepsi Center.

Denver has won three straight after losing its last two at Washington. The Nuggets have won six of the last seven contests in this series.