Nuggets Surprise Wizards 90-89

The Denver Nuggets are doing their best to avoid being the worst.

Anthony Goldwire sank a 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left as the Denver Nuggets rallied to beat Washington 90-89 Tuesday night for their third victory in four games.

Goldwire's basket capped a 10-2 Denver run over the final 75 seconds. The Wizards had a final chance to win, but Chris Webber's fadeaway shot with three seconds left hit the side of the backboard and Johnny Newman blocked Tracy Murray's 15-footer as time expired.

"Danny (Fortson) set a great pick on Juwan Howard, and I just came off shooting," Goldwire said. "I didn't hesitate. I was wide open. Juwan tried to jump out at me, but it was already gone."

Denver (8-59) needs to win two games to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history, the 9-73 mark set 25 years ago by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Laphonso Ellis scored 18 points for the Nuggets. Newman finished with 16 points, while Goldwire and Cory Alexander each had 14.

Webber had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who lost for the second time in three games. Rod Strickland added 20 points and Juwan Howard had eight points in 32 minutes in his return after missing 16 games with a sprained ankle.

Trailing 87-80 with 1:40 left, Denver went on a 7-1 run to pull within a point with 35 seconds to play. The spurt included a 3-pointer from Ellis and layups by Danny Fortson and Bobby Jackson.

The Nuggets were helped by Washington's troubles at the foul line, where the Wizards missed five of their last eight shots.

"We got what we deserved," said Washington coach Bernie Bickerstaff. "I thought Denver played well. They kept coming after us and they played with purpose. We didn't make our free throws. I give credit to them -- they played a heck of a basketball game."

The Wizards scored nine straight points to take a 70-59 lead at the end of the third quarter. But the Nuggets fought back, holding the Wizards without a field goal for five minutes and using a 10-2 run to pull within two on Jackson's 3-pointer with 4:19 left.

"We just hung in there," said Denver coach Bill Hanzlik. "If Washington makes their free throws, they would have had us."

Led by Strickland and Murray, Washington went on an 11-0 run to take an 18-12 lead with 3:10 left in the first quarter, and the Wizards extended the lead to 10 early in the second quarter. Washington led 49-43 at the break as Denver shot 36 percent in the first half.

"Maybe it's a wakeup call for them to put teams away," Hanzlik said. "I'd like to feel bad for tem, but with 50-some losses, it's tough."

NOTES: Denver committed just two turnovers in the first half. ... Howard went scoreless for the first 25:56. ... Denver has failed to score 100 points in 20 straight games, a club record. ... The Wizards fell to 17-7 against Western Conference opponents.