Nikola Jokic put up an incredible performance tonight for the Denver Nuggets but it was spoiled by an unbelievable mental breakdown by Russell Westbrook at the end of double overtime. Jokic scored sixty-one points and battled all night long to keep Denver in it when Anthony Edwards went on a late run. The Nuggets had it right in their grasp at the end of an extra ten minuts of play, but Westbrook inexplicably went for a fastbreak layup (which he missed) when all the Nuggets needed to do was hold the ball. Then he fouled Nickeil Alexander-Walker on a game ending shot and the Nuggets end up losing at the free throw line 140-139.

Denver’s bigs opened the scoring with back to back threes. The Wolves were ice cold while Aaron Gordon was red hot and the Nuggets were up a dozen just four minutes into the game. Denver’s defense continued to stifle Minnesota, Peyton Watson was absolutely menacing Anthony Edwards and there was little else for the Wolves to turn to. It remained a double digit lead as the quarter went down the stretch. Some Minnesota role players started to knock down shots but Jokic had an answer every time down. The Wolves outside shooting eventually got them back into the game. They went on an 11-2 run before right at the end of the quarter. After one Denver was up 32-26.

The Nuggets got a couple buckets to open the second quarter but gave up back to back offensive rebounds which sparked a 7-0 run for Minnesota. They’d eventually tie it but the Denver’s defense was definitely making things difficult (at least when they rebounded). The problem was the offense. Outside of Nikola the Nuggets couldn’t get anything going…and yet, Nikola alone was keeping Denver in front. They stayed a couple buckets in front of Minnesota until the last couple minutes of the half when the Nuggets got sloppy and gave up a 10-0 run. A pair of Nikola free throws kept Denver in front but they went to the locker room up just 53-52.

Rudy Gobert was giving the Nuggets trouble near the rim to start the third quarter which put the Wolves back in front. Jokic continued to be an unstoppable force that carried Denver’s offense. He had a ridiculous behind-the-back dime to Christian Braun just before the midpoint of the quarter. The Nuggets stayed within a bucket or two but everything on offense was such a battle. Alexander-Walker picked up the scoring load for Minnesota who was up by a half dozen with two minutes to go in the quarter. The Nuggets finally got some points (and some good play) out of Westbrook right at the close but after three still trailed 84-79.

Jokic was still in to start the fourth and the Nuggets immediately went on a 10-0 run (seven from Nikola). Denver’s defense was stout while Joker continued to orchestrate on offense. When the lead got up to nine Minnesota called timeout. They regrouped and cut back into the lead a little bit, Denver led by five with just over five to go. Minnesota kept getting closer with Edwards starting to make shots and the game headed towards a tight finish. An 8-1 Wolves run put them up three with two minutes left. Denver trimmed the lead to two but then settled for Braun and Gordon threes which both drew iron. They found themselves still down two with thirty seconds left and the ball. Jokic got fouled on a shot in the lane and hit the free throws. Randle missed a buzzer three and we headed to overtime.

Minnesota got the early lead in OT but it wasn’t more than a point or two. The Wolves kept hitting their shots while the Nuggets sputtered and the lead got up to six. After a timeout they responded and hit a couple threes. Once again Denver found themselves down two, with the ball and less than thirty seconds to go. Jokic got the ball in the lane, the double came too late and he tied it with seven seconds left. Minnesota couldn’t convert on the other end and it was doooooouuuuuubbbbllleeee overtime.

Mike Conley started knocking down threes from the corner to open double OT, that got Minnesota a slight lead. Jokic would not be deterred. He sparked a 6-0 run to put Denver back in front by three and get himself to sixty points. Minnesota responded with a run of their own and got back the lead with a minute to go. The teams traded threes and then Westbrook went one of two from the free throw line to tie the game. When he missed the second FT attempt the refs blew their one job and couldn’t figure out who the ball went out of bounds off of and called a jump ball. Jokic got fouled on the jump and hit one of two free throws to put Denver up one with 17 seconds left. The Nuggets stole the ball but for some reason ran down the court and tried to score. Westbrook blew the layup and then fouled Alexander-Walker on a three point shot at the buzzer. He converted two of three at the line and the Wolves win 140-139.