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The Russell Westbrook experience never fails to live up to expectations.
At the end of the second overtime period, Westbrook nearly cost the Nuggets a crucial game against the Timberwolves with two costly mistakes.
With a slim one-point lead of 139-138 and only 17.7 seconds left on the clock, Westbrook intercepted a pass that looked like it would lead to a scoring opportunity for Denver.
Westbrook somehow missed a layup, Minnesota collected the rebound and charged down the court to set up a wide-open 3-pointer.
Despite Nickeil Alexander-Walker missing the shot, Westbrook committed a foul on the shooter as he ran across the court, giving away a chance for the Nuggets to secure the win.
Walker nailed two of the three free throws and Denver would lose the game 140-139.
“It’s a tough one,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “You’ve got a two-on-one break. It’s easy to say it in hindsight.”
Westbrook also missed a free throw while down 138-137 with 20 seconds left.
“We as a team, the Denver Nuggets, lost this game, not one player,” Malone said.
In 36 minutes off the bench, Westbrook scored 12 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists, and five fouls –– one bigger than the others.
The nightmare loss for the Nuggets spoils arguably Nikola Jokic’s most impressive performance in a career full of them.
Jokic scored 61 points while putting up 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the crushing defeat, which came with significant playoff implications for both teams.
The win for Minnesota puts them in a tie for the No. 6 seed in the NBA Western Conference, while the Nuggets loss cost them a chance to move closer to the Rockets for the No. 2 seed and put the Lakers just a 1/2 game behind them for the third spot.