The Denver Nuggets play host to the Washington Wizards at Ball Arena on Monday.

The Wizards (15-12) looked like they would be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference through the first month of the season, but regression has hit them like a wall recently. In fact, Washington enters this matchup losing nine of their last 14 games. That's the team everyone expected to see at the beginning of the season, and it has fans wondering where this team really is. In any case, a 15-12 record through the first two months is an extremely encouraging sign, and it looks like this team has quite the core with Bradley Beal running the show. The additions of numerous cast-offs are the thing that's really got them going, though, with Montrezl Harrell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Daniel Gafford and Kyle Kuzma all playing well in resurgent seasons.

The Nuggets (13-13) have had their fair share of struggles recently, entering this matchup losing nine of their last 13 games. The simple fact is, this team doesn't have the roster we were hoping to see. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr remain out for the majority of the season, and it's tough for any team to get going with two of its three best players missing. The other guy is an absolute monster, though, with Nikola Jokic playing at an MVP level after grabbing that award last season. The big man has three triple-doubles in his previous four games and is coming off a gem in which he tallied 35 points, 17 rebounds, and eight assists on Saturday. He likely won't win that award again, but he's definitely one of the candidates behind crazy lines like that.

These teams played two two-point games last season, with Washington sweeping the season series. Before that, the Nuggets won three of their previous four games over the Wizards.