By now, you’ve likely heard about the NBA’s game of the year that took place on Tuesday night between the Timberwolves and Nuggets. The game went back and forth all night with the stars shining brightly as the Wolves ultimately won 140-139 in a double overtime thrilling instant classic.
Anthony Edwards turned it on late, scoring 24 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and overtime sessions including a number of clutch buckets. For the home side, Nikola Jokic played the final 40:38 of game action and ended up making history, scoring the most points ever in a triple-double as he finished with an absurd 61 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Westbrook steals the show with clutch time gaffes
Yet sadly, this game was defined by the wild final sequence of double OT which included multiple mistakes by Russell Westbrook. First, Denver had the ball and the lead with the shot clock turned off, but instead of holding the ball and waiting to get fouled, Westbrook drove hard and attempted a fastbreak layup that would have put the Nuggets up by three.
Instead, Russ bricked the layup, then was slow getting back on defense behind the play, a mad scramble that ended with Nickeil Alexander-Walker attempting a game-winning three from the corner. Westbrook was late and reckless with his closeout and fouled NAW on the arm, resulting in three free throws with 0.1 seconds left that proved to be decisive.
A FOUL ON THE FINAL THREE-POINT SHOT 😱
THIS SEQUENCE IS INSANE. pic.twitter.com/IBysO7j0Em
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 2, 2025
Westbrook’s woeful 12-second sequence goes viral
Westbrook left the court in a hurry, but not before getting into it with a fan, then left the arena before speaking with the media, but social media had a field day with Russ’ tough stretch.
OH WOW RUSS WYD WYD WYD WYD WYD
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) April 2, 2025
That is about as damaging a sequence a player could've had on both sides of the floor in a game like this from Russell Westbrook
— Daman Rangoola (@damanr) April 2, 2025
Oh man, Russ...
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) April 2, 2025
Only Russ Westbrook man...
— Zak Noble (@Zaknoble) April 2, 2025
I have defended Russ all season
I give up
— The NBA Chicken 🃏🏹🐔 (@NbaChicken) April 2, 2025
HOW DID RUSS MISS THAT LAYUP LMAOOOOO
— 𝓖𝓪𝓫𝓮 🍀 (@gabe_blessed) April 2, 2025
Wow, Russ. Didn’t need that layup attempt
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) April 2, 2025
Well, that’s a lousy way to lose.
Russell Westbrook with an absolutely disastrous, game-ending sequence. #Nuggets
— Shawn Drotar (@sdrotar) April 2, 2025
All-time Russ sequence there
— NBA University (@NBA_University) April 2, 2025
Live by Westbrook, Die by Westbrook.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 2, 2025
Westbrook is one of my favourite players ever
But if there was ever a sequence to describe the experience it is to watch him play haha
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) April 2, 2025
Worstbrook
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 2, 2025
It should probably come as no surprise; Westbrook has long been one of the most volatile and polarizing figures in the league. From winning MVP in Oklahoma City to being salary dumped to the Jazz, Russ has done just about everything over his 17-year career.
Love him or hate him, everyone has an opinion and everyone knows the Russell Westbrook experience all too well by now. This was certainly not one of his finer moments, but in a way, it encapsulated everything the haters believe about him.
But as is often the case, Westbrook’s bad moments get far more of the attention than the good. The Nuggets lost this game for many reasons beyond what happened in the last 12 seconds (a sequence that began with a Westbrook steal, by the way). But all anyone will remember will be his loud mistakes in the biggest moments.