MIAMI _ It's as if this is the only way the Miami Heat know how to play.
If it's not close, apparently why bother?
So there they were again, playing to the decisive final ticks, and then another set of decisive final tickets, and then another set of decisive final ticks Monday night against a Denver Nuggets teams playing for its playoff life.
This time, the wild scramble, a 2017-18 Heat special, resulted in a 149-141 double-overtime victory at AmericanAirlines Arena that lifted the Heat into the No. 7 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, setting a franchise record for points.
James Johnson took charge late for the Heat, after Kelly Olynyk, Josh Richardson and Goran Dragic helped carry the Heat to that finish.
But with Wilson Chandler, Nikola Jokic and Will Barton with solid nights for Denver, there barely was breathing room until a pair of 3-pointer late in the second overtime from Johnson.
The Heat were without center Hassan Whiteside for a fifth consecutive game and guard Dwyane Wade for a fourth consecutive game, Whiteside with a sore hip, Wade with a balky hamstring.
That had Bam Adebayo remaining in the starting lineup, flanked by James Johnson and Richardson at forward, Dragic and Tyler Johnson at guard.
After a two-day break, coach Erik Spoelstra somewhat tightened his rotation, with Ellington and Rodney McGruder entering somewhat later by previously.
Olynyk and Justise Winslow were the Heat's first two substitutes off the bench.
Ellington opened overtime with a 3-pointer for a 134-131 Heat lead, with the shot reviewed and confirmed a 3-pointer at the next stoppage.
After a Jokic offensive foul, James Johnson continued his onslaught with a driving layup for a 136-131 Heat lead with 3:09 to play.
But back came Murray with a 3-pointer to make it a 136-134 game, only to see it matched by a James Johnson corner 3-pointer for a 139-134 Heat lead.
Empty possessions then followed, before James Johnson converted another 3-pointer for a 142-134 lead.
Regulation ended tied at 118, when Richardson, given the chance to play in isolation, was off with a short jump hook just before the fourth quarter buzzer.
The first overtime ended when the Heat isolated James Johnson, who got to the rim but was off as the buzzer sounded, the Heat looking for a whistle that never arrived.
With 59.4 seconds to play in overtime, a pair of Murray free throws tied it at 131.
After a Richardson turnover, he recovered to block a Murray shot leaving Denver in possession with 23.5 second left in the first overtime and 6 seconds on the shot clock.
Chandler then was off on a forced 3-point attempt, with the Heat securing the rebound, eventually calling time at midcourt with 13.3 seconds left, setting up what proved to be Johnson's missed driving attempt.
Earlier, off a rebound scramble, Jokic got to the line with 1:16 left in regulation and converted a pair of free throws for a 116-115 Denver lead.
Then, with 34.7 seconds left in the fourth, Dragic worked his way to the line. With the Het at 7 of 14 on free throw to that stage, he made both for a 117-116 Heat lead.
Off a timeout, Jokic was short with a jumper against Adebayo, who grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 26.8 seconds left in regulation. At 0 for 4 from the line to that stage, he made only the second, for a 118-116 Heat lead.
Off their final timeout of regulation, the Nuggets got a tip-in from Jokic with 10 seconds to play in regulation to tie it at 118 and set up Richardson's attempt.
The Heat pushed to an 88-81 lead late in the third quarter but the Nuggets were able to trim the gap to 92-91 entering the fourth.
Chandler was up to 22 points by that stage for Denver, with Olynyk with 19 points through three periods for the Heat.
With Dragic scoring on a driving layup, the Heat went into halftime up 64-63, with Olynyk at 12 points at that stage, as well as three blocked shots, which matched his career high for a game. Jokic was up to 17 points for the Nuggets at the break.
After controlling the pace in Friday's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, the Heat found themselves playing at speed at the outset Monday, with Denver leading 37-36 at the end of the opening period.
The Nuggets raced to an early 11-point lead before the Heat took a one-point lead with their final basket of the opening period.
Richardson was up to 10 points at the end of the first period, as was Denver's Jokic.
The game concluded the two-game season series.
The Nuggets won the first meeting 95-94 Nov. 3 at the Pepsi Center, when James Johnson fouled Nugget forward Paul Millsap on a late 3-point attempt, with the Denver forward making all three free throws and Heat guard Dion Waiters off with a jumper at the buzzer.
The Nuggets entered seeking their first season sweep of the Heat since 2008-09.
The Heat had won their previous two home games against the Nuggets before falling 116-113 at home last season.
The game opened a two-game homestand for the Heat that concludes Wednesday against the Knicks.
The Heat were coming off Friday's 92-91 victory over the Lakers, with Dragic scoring 30 or more for consecutive games for the first time in his career.
The Heat entered on a four-game home winning streak, but just 5-8 at home against the Western Conference.
The game was the second on a seven-game trip for the Nuggets, who entered 6-4 on the road against the East. The Nuggets were coming of Saturday's stunning 101-94 home loss to Memphis, when Denver shot .368 from the field.
The Nuggets were without guard Gary Harris due to a knee issue.
