A James Harden floater on the other end tied the score, giving Denver one last chance to win. Once again, the ball found its way to Westbrook behind the arc. This time, however, he got caught playing indecisively. The Nuggets didn't even get a shot up.

Westbrook missed a layup and fouled on a 3-pointer — a maddening display that put fans’ hearts and the playoff seed in a blender. But he has settled down under Adelman, who is committed to playing the “best players” at the end of the games, not favorites.

That might involve finding an answer for Westbrook, who hit a three-pointer late in regulation to put the Nuggets ahead by two points. He then missed a final, and potentially game-tying, shot in regulation before earning redemption with his game-saving defense in overtime.