What happened in Denver was not sudden.
It was not accidental.
And according to many inside the league, it was not invisible.

The NBA has officially launched an investigation into the officiating team from the Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers game.

A decision that immediately ignited debate across the basketball world.

Because this was not about one missed call.
It was about a pattern.

Throughout the game, and especially during the second quarter and the closing minutes, Lakers guards were repeatedly accused of committing contact fouls that went uncalled.

Not subtle contact.
Not borderline plays.

Aerial duels.
Mid air body contact.
Hands on arms.
Bumps that altered shots.

And the whistles never came.

The most visible casualty of this silence was Jamal Murray.

For one half, Murray looked unstoppable.
Explosive.
Confident.
In rhythm.

He poured in 26 points in the first half alone.
Attacking downhill.
Pulling up with confidence.
Punishing every defensive mistake.

Denver had control.
Momentum.
Belief.

Then something shifted.

Not tactically.
Mentally.

Early in the second half, Murray drove into the lane and absorbed clear contact.
No call.

The next possession, he rose for a jumper and felt hands on his body mid air.

Again, nothing.

His reaction was immediate.
Arms raised.
Eyes locked on the referee.
A look of disbelief.

From that moment on, the frustration began to build.

Murray’s body language changed.

His shoulders slumped after plays.
He stopped running back with the same urgency.

Each drive into traffic came with hesitation.
Each shot seemed rushed.

By the end of the game, the stat line told a story no Nuggets fan wanted to read.

Two points.

That was all Murray managed in the entire second half.

From 26 points of fire to near silence.

Inside the Nuggets locker room, sources say the frustration was palpable.

Not anger directed at opponents.
But confusion and disbelief toward the officiating.

Players reportedly replayed sequences on tablets.
Pointing at screens.
Shaking their heads.

Especially the aerial plays.

According to league insiders, the NBA’s investigation focuses heavily on moments where Lakers guards made contact with Murray and other Nuggets players while they were airborne.

The most dangerous type of contact.
And the most strictly regulated by the rulebook.

Yet, possession after possession passed without a whistle.

The second quarter, in particular, has drawn scrutiny.

Multiple sequences where Denver attacked the rim aggressively and came away empty handed.
Not just on the scoreboard.
But emotionally.

Because when players feel they must finish through illegal contact without protection, their approach changes.

They stop attacking.
They settle.
They doubt.

That doubt is deadly.

Murray’s frustration was visible even to casual viewers.
He spoke with his hands.
He stared at officials after missed calls.

He slowed down after no call drives.

This was not subtle.

Former players immediately noticed it on broadcast.
Commentators began referencing Murray’s reactions before halftime.
Analysts pointed out how his rhythm evaporated after repeated no calls.

The Nuggets’ lead began to shrink.

Not because of missed shots alone.
But because the engine driving their offense lost confidence.

By the fourth quarter, Murray no longer attacked the paint with the same aggression.

He pulled up earlier.
Passed out of lanes he had dominated earlier.

The Lakers, sensing the shift, increased pressure.
More physical.
More contact.

And still, no whistle.

This is where the NBA’s concern escalated.

According to reports, league officials were alerted to the discrepancy between first half and second half officiating tendencies.
Not just in foul count.
But in foul type.

Particularly, contact initiated by Lakers guards during airborne moments.

These are plays that carry injury risk.
And ignoring them raises serious red flags.

That is why the investigation is not routine.
It is thorough.

The officiating crew has been summoned to review sessions.

Every angle.
Every possession.

Officials are being asked to explain decisions.
And non decisions.

The Nuggets’ collapse is now viewed not just as a basketball failure, but as a psychological consequence of perceived injustice.

That distinction matters.

Because when players lose trust in officiating, the game stops being about execution.
It becomes about survival.

Murray’s second half performance is now being framed not as choking.

But as a reaction.

A response to repeated moments where he felt his effort was not protected.

Around the league, reactions are mixed.
Some argue stars must play through contact.

Others point out that rules exist precisely to prevent that mentality.

The NBA walks a dangerous line here.

If the investigation confirms that fouls were deliberately ignored, especially in high risk aerial situations, the consequences could be significant.

Not only for the officiating crew.
But for league credibility.

Denver fans are already vocal.
Sharing clips.
Slow motion breakdowns.
Side by side comparisons.

And Jamal Murray has become the symbol of the controversy.

From dominant scorer.
To frustrated observer.

All within the same game.

The Nuggets did not just lose a lead.
They lost momentum.
Confidence.
And belief in fairness.

The NBA now must answer a difficult question.

Was this simply human error.
Or something more troubling.

Because when a player scores 26 points in one half and only 2 in the next, the explanation is rarely just basketball.

Sometimes, it’s about what wasn’t called.

And what that silence did to a player’s mind.