WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Ticker) -- Michael Jordan scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half as the Washington Wizards completed a four-game homestand with an 89-74 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

NBA TV highlights from Nuggets-Wizards: 56k | 300k

Jordan made 11-of-22 shots and handed out six assists as the Wizards defeated the Nuggets for the fourth straight time and gained a split of their homestand. Jordan scored 10 points in a 12-4 run that he capped with a baseline jumper for an 84-70 lead with 2:15 left in the fourth quarter.

"It was a pretty feisty game," Jordan said. "It kind of woke us up because we were in a fog early. Conversation got a little loud, and I think it woke everybody up and from that point on we were in the game, in a dogfight, not just on the court but in a war of words."

Larry Hughes, who missed most of the second half of Saturday's 88-80 loss to Philadelphia with the flu, added 20 points in 38 minutes for Washington.

"I felt good," Hughes said. "I felt energized to play the game, and then to win the game. I was looking to be aggressive, and I felkt myself out there."

Former Wizard Juwan Howard scored 15 of his 25 points in the first half, when the Nuggets held a 42-39 edge. Howard made 11-of-18 shots and was the only player to score in double figues for Denver, which lost for the fourth time in five games.

Howard, who heard boos from the sellout crowd of 20,173 at the MCI Center, was the only Nugget to shoot 50 percent.

"Nah, not a one-man gang. Maybe America's Most Wanted," Howard responded when asked how he felt leading Denver's offense. "I love when I come here and they boo me. I'm the guy you love to hate, baby.

"I love it when they boo me. I remember times I used to go to Miami, after that contract situation, and they used to boo me every time in Miami, and I made sure every time I tried to light 'em up. But more importantly, I'm just upset with the fact we lost the game. It's not an individual thing of me against the fans, it's the Wizards against the Nuggets."

Etan Thomas contributed 10 points and eight rebounds, while fellow reserve Tyronn Lue and Bryon Russell also scored 10 points for Washington, which improved to 21-20, the same record it had at the midway point last season.

"It is a first half of the season that we can improve on," said Jordan, who missed most of the second half last season after undergoing knee surgery in late February. "We are 21-20. That means we are above .500, but we gave away a few games that could have been better. We have gone through some injuries. In the conference, I would like to see us improve in the second half so we can really take hold of who we are, our identity and just play better basketball."

Guard Jerry Stackhouse missed the homestand with a groin problem but could return Wednesday at New Orleans.

The Wizards outscored the Nuggets, 25-15, in the third quarter, when Denver shot just 22 percent (4-of-18).

Brendan Haywood scored all four of his points during an 11-2 burst that he capped with two free throws to give Washington a 54-48 lead with 4:31 remaining in the third period.

The Wizards held a seven-point advantage after three quarters, but Denver closed within 68-64 on a 20-footer by Howard with 7:05 left. Lue and Rodney White traded baskets before Jordan drilled a 16-footer to give the Wizards a 74-66 advantage with 5:35 remaining and ignite the decisive run.