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Nuggets-Sonics: 56k | 300k  |
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While Seattle is battling for a postseason spot, Denver is firmly entrenched in the Western Conference basement.
"They got up in our chest and we were challenged," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "We ended up getting very aggressive on the defensive end of the floor and making things happen. Finally, we were able to sneak this game."
But Rodney White's 3-pointer with 38.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter forged a 91-91 tie and forced overtime.
"The whole game, I made some key shots," White said. "You have to accept the responsibility if you're going to shoot the big shots, to make them or to miss them."
Radmanovic connected from beyond the arc with 1:09 remaining to break a 97-97 deadlock and the Sonics had a 100-99 lead after Denver's Juwan Howard made two free throws with 44.5 seconds left.
"It was a big shot," said Radmanovic, who was 7-of-15 from the field. "I didn't think about it too much. If I see an opening, I'm going to shoot the ball, no matter what. Everybody wants to take it. You've got nothing to lose."
White had a chance to win it but airballed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with three seconds to play. Allen sank a technical foul shot after the Nuggets were called for delay of game with 2.4 seconds left, then took the ensuing inbounds pass and ran out the clock.
"I think I probably just rushed it," White said. "I looked at the clock and there was still three seconds left. If anything, I learned from it. If anything, I would take that shot again and again."
Denver had no answer for Allen, who made 14-of-23 shots from the field, including 7-of-10 3-pointers. He helped Seattle to its third win in four games. The Sonics trail Houston and Phoenix by four games for the final playoff berth in the West.
"Ray played the whole second half and found a way to get something going," McMillan said. "The guy was exhausted out there and he continued to knock down shots with guys hanging all over him."
"He's an All-Star and he's one of the elite players in the league," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "When you come down the stretch in tight ballgames, we don't have a guy like that who can make plays going down the stretch."
Shammond Williams scored a season-high 22 points and Howard finished with 20 for the Nuggets, who have lost four straight and 19 of their last 21 games.
"I wanted to win, period," Williams said. "That's what I'm out there for. I'm not out there for a great individual performance, I'm out there to get a win. I just go out and give an all-out effort each and every game to help my team win. We took some steps, but we still didn't get a win."
Denver, which claimed one of its four road wins this season here on January 3, took a 69-63 lead into the fourth quarter and a dunk by Marcus Camby extended it to eight points.
But Seattle responded with a 14-4 spurt and took a 77-75 lead as Kevin Ollie completed a three-point play with 7:48 remaining. Neither team was ahead by more than a basket until Allen followed a jumper with a 3-pointer to give the Sonics a 91-87 edge with 91 seconds to play.
Rashard Lewis was held to seven points on 3-of-14 shooting, but Ollie finished with 14 as Seattle's bench outscored Denver's reserves, 42-8.
"They were shadowing me everywhere I went," Lewis said. "I told Ray in the third quarter that all I could do was play defense and he was gonna have to take over. That's what he did and we were able to win the game."
Camby had 17 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Nene Hilario added 13 and 10 for the Nuggets, who shot 53 percent (41-of-77) and won the battle on the glass, 44-29.
"We played hard, but we have nothing to show for it," Camby said. "That delay-of-game call was the second time that's happened to us. We're not getting any respect. It should have been a five seconds, but I don't know what Nene did."