DENVER — Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka blasted the crew that worked Monday night’s 128-125 overtime defeat to the Denver Nuggets, calling it “the most poorly officiated game I’ve seen in a long time.”
The contest at Ball Arena featured 59 combined free-throw attempts and ended with both Denver centers, Nikola Jokić and Jonas Valančiūnas, on the bench after fouling out. The pivotal whistle sounded with 2.3 seconds left in regulation and the Nuggets trailing 117-116. Before Denver could inbound, Rockets guard Amen Thompson was called for a foul away from the ball when he appeared to trip Tim Hardaway Jr. Houston challenged, but the ruling stood. Jamal Murray converted the technical free throw to force overtime.
“[Officials Natalie Sago and Jamahl Ralls] have no business being out there, and [crew chief Zach Zarba] was acting starstruck,” Udoka said postgame.
In the extra period, a three-pointer by Spencer Jones pushed Denver ahead 124-117 with 2:59 remaining. Houston trimmed the margin to three and had possession with 13 seconds left, but Alperen Şengün missed a contested 24-footer, sealing the Nuggets’ victory.
Jokić logged 39 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his league-best 12th triple-double of the season. Murray added 35 points and hit 14 of 15 from the line. Şengün countered with 33 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, recording his first triple-double of the year, while Kevin Durant supplied 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds and five blocks for Houston.
The Nuggets played without starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Christian Braun (ankle). Starting guard Peyton Watson exited six minutes into the game with a right trunk contusion.
The win moved Denver to 19-6, giving the club sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, 4½ games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston dropped its third straight road game.
Murray said the officiating went both ways. “It’s tough for the refs to call both sides dead even,” he told the Denver Post. “They missed some on our end and on theirs; I don’t think that was the issue tonight.”
Source: ESPN
