Heat, Nuggets crash the stats in wild double-OT thriller
MIAMI — They broke the stat system.
That’s how good Miami and Denver were on Monday night, when even modern technology couldn’t keep up with the Heat and Nuggets.
For 48 minutes, they went end to end. And one overtime couldn’t decide it, either.
Finally, after three hours, the Heat stepped up.
James Johnson scored a career-high 31 points and Kelly Olynyk added 30 off the bench as Miami set a franchise single-game scoring record by topping the Nuggets 149-141 in double overtime.
“There didn’t deserve to be a loser,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Guys probably really enjoyed playing in a game like this.”
His guys did, anyway. Olynyk became the second reserve in Heat history to score 30. Wayne Ellington had a career-high 29 points, and the Heat made 20 3-pointers — second-most in franchise history.
All that comes with a serious disclaimer.
There was no official boxscore after the game, because the system crashed in the first overtime and crews were scrambling to determine official numbers long after the final buzzer.
What mattered most was the score — one that moved Miami (38-33) into seventh in the Eastern Conference and left the Nuggets two games back of the last Western Conference spot.
“They just executed,” Nuggets forward Paul Millsap said.
“They got some, I think, fluke plays and a little luck and they’re at home. Momentum shifted a little bit.”
Miami’s point total was also an NBA season high. Houston and Oklahoma City each scored 148 in games earlier this season.
Nikola Jokic had 34 points and 14 rebounds for Denver (38-33), while Wilson Chandler added 26 for the Nuggets.
Jamal Murray scored 23 and Will Barton finished with 22 for Denver.
“There’s no stats. The stat machine blew up I guess,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
“But the only stat I cared about tonight is that I’m proud of the way we competed, I’m proud of the way we executed.”
Neither team was at full strength. For Miami, Dwyane Wade (left hamstring strain) missed his fourth consecutive game, and Hassan Whiteside (left hip pain) sat out his fifth straight contest.
Denver was without leading scorer Gary Harris, sidelined by a strained right knee that could keep him out several more days.
Denver led 16-5 after 3 1/2 minutes, and that was the only double-digit lead by either side for about the next three hours.
After one quarter, Denver led by one. Halftime, Miami led by one.
After three, Miami was still in front by one.
After regulation, it was tied.
After one overtime, it was still tied.
“That’s as playoffs as it comes,” Olynyk said.
Back and forth they went all night, two teams that played a one-point game at Denver back in November — that one not being decided until Dion Waiters’ missed jumper as time expired sealed the Nuggets’ win.
This one had even more fireworks, with the Heat missing shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime before finding a way in the second OT.