SEATTLE — The Nuggets weren’t happy after the Seattle SuperSonics pulled off the shocker of the day — a 151-147 double-overtime victory Sunday.
How could they be? In the middle of the hottest April and Western Conference playoff race in recent memory, the Nuggets have lost back-to-back games at home to Sacramento on Saturday and on the road to Seattle.
As a result, they didn’t gain any separation in the competition for the eighth, and final, playoff spot. Golden State also lost Sunday, maintaining the tie for eighth place. Both teams have five games left.
Pride took a beating in the locker room after it was thoroughly tested on the court.
“You play for the big games like this,” Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said. “If pride doesn’t get you up, then you don’t need to be playing.”
Pride is the only motivation Seattle has left, and the Sonics used every bit of strength to protect it. Rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green gave the Nuggets all they could handle, finishing with 37 and 35 points, respectively, both career highs.
Durant hit nearly every important shot. His 26-foot 3-pointer with 22.6 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime. His 30-foot 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left in overtime sent the game into double overtime. His free throws with 15.1 seconds left in double OT proved to be the winning points.
“They got career nights from two people,” Nuggets guard Allen Iverson said. “They got two 30-point scorers. Then they have other guys doing what they did out there. What can you say? They were the better team tonight.”
Said coach George Karl: “It’s like in the first half we feel out the game and don’t play with any urgency, especially defensively. When we’re scoring points, we kind of have a looseness defensively, and then when we try to tighten up the ship, you’ve got two young players with confidence.”
Durant and Green combined for 43 points in the second half and two overtimes.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets found scoring easy as well. All eight players who played scored in double figures. Carmelo Anthony followed his 47-point performance against Sacramento with a game-high 38 against the Sonics. But only six points came in the overtimes.
Iverson finished with 26 points and 13 assists. Kenyon Martin returned to the team after serving a one-game suspension and had 22 points and nine rebounds.
The game featured 14 players in double figures, 223 shots taken and 115 made. The Nuggets had nearly as many 3-pointers taken (30) as assists (33).
All were looking to get past Sunday’s game. None, however, said they will forget it.
“All of them stay with you,” Smith said. “Especially when you lose to these teams, Sacramento and Seattle.”
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
The Nuggets missed a 4-0 series sweep against the Sonics, which would have been their first over Seattle since 1976-77. . . . Nuggets assistant Jamahl Mosley was not with the team Sunday. He has been deployed periodically on scouting trips this season. . . . Former Nugget Francisco Elson, who scored six points for Seattle, chatted with Nene during halftime.
Final thought
This was a terrible way to follow up the loss to Sacramento, but the Nuggets have no choice but to shake it off and focus in on a huge week of games.
Up next
At Clippers, 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
