You have to be kidding.
The Nuggets, clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot, lost Saturday to the Sacramento Kings, a lottery-bound team playing without two of its top players.
In the 118-115 sputtering, Denver had possession on the final play, with plans to go to J.R. Smith for the potential game-tying 3-pointer. But Smith’s desperate heave bounced off the rim, and the Nuggets lost a game that could very well determine whether or not they make the playoffs.
“It’s just unacceptable,” said Denver guard Allen Iverson, who scored just 13 points, about half his season average. “There’s just no excuse for it.”
If the Nuggets had won the game, they would have tied Dallas for seventh place in the Western Conference. Instead, Denver now has the same record as Golden State (46-30), and the two are tied for eighth place. There are just six games left for Denver, including a game Thursday at Golden State.
Saturday’s loss was inexplicable and inexcusable. Denver has played brilliant, inspired basketball at the Pepsi Center, entering the night 31-7 at home. Saturday’s play was anything but brilliant.
The collapse began in the second quarter, when Denver led by 10, and everything was rosy — until Smith had a breakaway dunk. What should have been an easy two points turned into a blooper, when his show-off windmill dunk clanged off the back rim. A disgusted coach George Karl pushed his back into his chair and was nearly horizontal to the ground. On the other end, Sacramento’s Anthony Johnson splashed a 3-pointer. Less than five minutes after the botched dunk, the Kings took their first lead, 46-45, with 5:19 left in the first half.
“We got sloppy,” Karl said.
After three quarters, Denver trailed 88-79, and the Pepsi Center was so quiet you could hear a playoff seed drop.
The Nuggets, suddenly, turned on their trusty old light switch, the one that has helped them beat other lottery-bound teams in the final minutes of games, after a few quarters of horsing around.
The Nuggets cut the lead to three with 59.1 seconds left, but the Kings made free throws down the stretch and Smith couldn’t hit the last shot.
Karl said he wanted Smith to take the shot — “He’s best on our team at making the tough 3” — but Smith was 2-for-11 from 3-point range on Saturday. After the game, Smith sneaked out the side door of the locker room to avoid talking to reporters.
The Kings were glad to chat about their stinging upset. Consider that Sacramento (36-40) was without injured forward Ron Artest (20.5 points per game) and center Brad Miller (13.4 points and 9.5 rebounds). And Kevin Martin spent the day feeling nauseous. But he dropped in a team-high 36 points.
Said Kings coach Reggie Theus: “When all is said and done, our guys played harder.”
Denver played abysmal defense, allowing the likes of Mikki Moore (23 points) and Francisco Garcia (29 points) to score like they were A.I. and Melo.
As for A.I. and Melo, well, Iverson was lackluster in defeat, while Carmelo Anthony scored 47 points, three from a career high.
Anthony was the one Nugget who seemed to have the fire and desire to win. He needed four others.
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
Starting for the suspended Kenyon Martin, Denver’s Linas Kleiza scored 28 points, while shooting 13-for-15 from the free-throw line. Denver was 8-for-31 from 3-point range.
Final thought
What an embarrassment.
Up next
At Seattle, 7 p.m., tonight.
DENVER AT SEATTLE
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KKFN 104.3 FM
Spotlight on Kevin Durant: The University of Texas product is the only rookie in the NBA to lead his team in five statistical categoriespoints, blocked shots, steals, free-throws made and free-throw percentage. His 19.8 points per game is higher than eight of the past 10 selections as the rookie of the year.
Notebook
Nuggets: Power forward Kenyon Martin will return to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for exceeding the number of flagrant fouls allotted in a season. In the past five games he played, Martin averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds.
SuperSonics: Seattle has lost nine of its past 10 games, including five straight, all at home. The Sonics are 0-3 against Denver this season.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
