Nuggets Outlast Rockets in Overtime Thriller, But Late-Game Officiating Overshadows Instant Classic
This was shaping up to be one of those games you remember for a long time-the kind that keeps fans on the edge of their seats, where every possession feels like it might swing the outcome. The Rockets and Nuggets went toe-to-toe in a tightly contested battle, trading blows and momentum all night.
Neither side could create much separation, and just when it seemed one team might pull away, the other came storming back. It was competitive, intense, and, for most of the night, a showcase of high-level basketball.
And then came the final three minutes of regulation-an absolute rollercoaster.
With 3:11 left on the clock, Nikola Jokić pulled up and buried a three to give Denver a 108-104 lead. It was the kind of shot we’ve come to expect from the two-time MVP-calm, confident, and clutch.
Moments later, after a missed Kevin Durant jumper, Cam Johnson leaked out and drew a foul on Alperen Şengün. He hit one of two free throws, nudging the lead to 109-104.
But the Rockets weren’t going away. Jabari Smith Jr. answered with a three at the 2:21 mark, cutting the deficit to just two.
Then came a vintage Kevin Durant moment-blocking Jokić from behind on a 10-foot attempt, one of five rejections on the night for KD, most of them coming against Jokić himself. Durant was everywhere defensively, playing with a level of intensity that reminded everyone why he’s still one of the game’s most complete players.
Şengün, who had been battling all night in the paint, tied the game with a soft 10-footer with 1:39 remaining. Then Jokić responded with a high-arching, moonshot three-nothing but net. Denver back up, 112-109.
But Reed Sheppard wasn’t fazed. The rookie calmly dribbled into a three-pointer and nailed it to tie the game again. 112-112.
With under a minute left, the Rockets collapsed on Jokić, forcing him to kick it out. The ball found Spencer Jones in the corner-he’s been quietly building a reputation as a Rockets killer-and he delivered again. Denver 115, Houston 112.
Durant, never one to shy away from the moment, responded with a cold-blooded contested three with 36 seconds left. Tie game. Again.
Then came a crucial sequence: with 18 seconds left, Jamal Murray drew a foul on Şengün. It was a tough call, especially considering the physicality that had been allowed throughout the game.
Murray, normally automatic from the line, split the pair. Denver led 116-115.
On the next possession, Şengün muscled his way through a crowd of Nuggets defenders and converted a two-footer with 2.3 seconds left. Rockets 117, Nuggets 116.
Timeout Denver.
The Nuggets drew up a sideline out-of-bounds play, trying to free up a shooter. That’s when the controversy hit.
As Tim Hardaway Jr. tried to break free, he stumbled-some say tripped over his own feet-while Amen Thompson pursued him. The two made contact as Hardaway fell, and the officials blew the whistle. Foul on Thompson.
Houston challenged the call, but after review, the ruling stood. The officials determined Thompson’s shin made illegal contact, despite the incidental nature of the play and the context of a game that had been physical from the opening tip.
Hardaway hit the free throw. Tie game, 117-117.
Denver inbounded to Jokić for the final shot in regulation. He missed a three at the buzzer, and the game went to overtime.
The Nuggets would go on to win in the extra period, but the buzz postgame wasn’t about Denver’s execution or Houston’s grit-it was about the officiating. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka didn’t mince words, calling it “the most poorly officiated game I’ve seen in a long time.” That kind of statement usually comes with a fine, but Udoka’s frustration was shared by many who watched the game unfold.
And here’s the thing: this game deserved to be remembered for the basketball. The shot-making, the defensive stops, the relentless energy from both teams-it was all there.
But instead, the final moments were defined by a whistle. Not a game-winning shot.
Not a defensive stand. A whistle.
That’s what stings, especially for a young Rockets team that had battled their way back-twice-in the final minutes. They had the game in their hands.
They made the plays. And then, suddenly, the outcome shifted on a call that left more questions than answers.
Even for Denver fans, the ending felt less like triumph and more like relief. Jokić had a chance to win it in regulation and missed.
But thanks to the foul call, the Nuggets got another bite at the apple. They made the most of it in overtime, but it’s hard to ignore how the final seconds of regulation unfolded.
This was a game that had everything you want-until it didn’t. The drama, the stars, the stakes. And then, a moment that took the decision out of the players’ hands.
Basketball is a game of runs, of momentum, of moments. And when those moments are decided by the players, win or lose, it’s what makes the game great. But when the whistle becomes the story, it’s a loss for everyone-players, coaches, and fans alike.
The Rockets will move on. They’ll regroup, and they’ll grow from this.
But they’ll also remember it. Because in a game where they had to beat the Nuggets once, they nearly did it twice.
And that should’ve been enough.