Nuggets' playoff hopes keep fading in double-overtime loss to Heat

Nuggets coach Michael Malone has a go-to phrase when describing games that turn into high-scoring affairs. Time and time again over the last two seasons, Malone likens them to “a shootout at the O.K. Corral,” a reference to the brawl that took place in Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881.

Monday’s matchup between the Nuggets and Heat was a classic example. Miami outlasted Denver 149-141 in a double-overtime game that featured 22 lead changes.

The Heat had a chance to win at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Both times, Miami went right at Paul Millsap and misfired. Eventually, Miami prevailed in the second overtime, outscoring Denver 18-10 in the final five minutes.

Both teams struggled to get stops all night. The Nuggets led 37-36 after the first quarter. At halftime, the Heat were ahead 64-63.

Six Heat players scored in double figures. James Johnson scored 31 points, 18 of which came after regulation. Kelly Olynk scored a season-high 30 points, while Wayne Ellington came up big with 29.

Nikola Jokic and Wilson Chandler led the Nuggets with 34 and 26 points apiece, but it wasn’t enough as Denver dropped to 0-2 on a seven-game road trip.

The Nuggets (38-33) fell back to 10th in the West with the loss. They will try to get their first victory of the road trip on Wednesday against the tanking Bulls.