Dec 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts on the court against the Denver Nuggets during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 92-85. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal scores a game-high 26 points to help the Wizards earn their eighth win of the season.

The Washington Wizards snagged their eighth win of the season to conquer a pitiful first quarter deficit against the Denver Nuggets Thursday night.

With a little over seven minutes into the first quarter, the Wizards were down, 13-5, after Danilo Gallinari hit a three-pointer to complete a 13-2 Nuggets’ run. Things only went downhill as the Wizards deficit expanded to a game-high 14 points with 3:31 left in the opening quarter.

To make matters worse, the scoreboard at Verizon Center wasn’t operating at tip-off and continued not to work throughout the first quarter. The Verizon Center announcer was forced to deliver live updates to a mere attendance of 12,645.

A revamped Wizards’ team came out in the second half to hold the Nuggets to just 33 second-half points. An even stronger defensive effort emerged in the final quarter as the Wizards allowed the Nuggets to score just 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal recorded a game-high 26 points with five assists and three rebounds in 36 minutes of play. Beal also made 4-of-7 shots from beyond the arc as he shot a team-high 53.3 percent from the field. Markieff Morris and John Wall pitched in by scoring 15 points a piece.

The Wizards’ double-double machine, Marcin Gortat, matched a season-low seven rebounds in a game where the Nuggets dominated the boards. Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds to help Denver outrebound the Wizards, 45 – 35.

Shooting just 76.6 percent from the free throw line, the Wizards shot an impressive 94.1 percent tonight with the help of Wall, Beal, and Morris converting 16-of-17 free throws attempts.

Thursday’s win marks the sixth home win for the Wizards, improving to 6-6 on the season. The Wizards, who are 8-13 on the season, currently sit in fourth place in the Southeast Division, 4.5 games back from the 13-9 Charlotte Hornets.

The Milwaukee Bucks come to town Saturday night in the final game of a three-game home stand before the Wizards go on the road to play in Miami, then back to D.C. for another three-game home stand.