Inglewood, Calif. — It was a dramatic finish at the NBA playoff game on Saturday as Aaron Gordon turned a missed shot by Nikola Jokic into an unforgettable play. With just seconds on the clock, Gordon managed to slam down Jokic’s airball, securing a 101-99 victory for the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers, equalizing their playoff series at 2-2.
“Nice pass,” Gordon humorously commented, reflecting on the pivotal moment.
In the dying moments of the game, Jokic attempted a challenging turnaround 3-pointer over Ivica Zubac but was disappointed to see it go off target. He admitted his initial reaction was, “This is going to be bad.”
Gordon’s decisive basket was initially approved by the referees, but it underwent an automatic review at the NBA’s replay center, where officials confirmed it to be a legal shot before the buzzer sounded. The ruling stated that the ball indeed left Gordon’s hands before the game clock expired.
Referee Zach Zarba elaborated on the review process, saying, “We’re looking to see if it’s in contact with his hand when the red light comes on.”
This was a historic moment in NBA playoff history, marking the first game-winning buzzer-beater dunk since the era of detailed play-by-play records began in 1997-98.
Interim Coach David Adelman expressed his relief, “I’m glad it’ll be a Nugget day, not a Clipper day.” This was the Clippers’ second narrow defeat, having lost Game 1 by two points in overtime.
“Best-of-three now,” commented Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, acknowledging the series’ competitive nature.
Leading the Nuggets, Jokic tallied an impressive 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists. His teammates Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun contributed with 17 points each.
On the Clippers’ side, Leonard scored 24 points, while Norman Powell added 22 and Zubac tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists.
In this closely contested series, the Nuggets took home one win from their two plays at the new Intuit Dome. The teams will now face off in Game 5 on Monday in Denver.
“This is going to be a dogfight every single game,” predicted Powell, emphasizing the series’ intensity.
The game wasn’t just tense at the end; near the first half’s conclusion, a skirmish resulted in six technical fouls, including one for Jokic.
The Clippers experienced their first lead at 97-96, following an offensive rebound and basket by Bogdan Bogdanovic. Shortly after, Jokic regained the lead for the Nuggets with a free throw and a basket. Zubac’s quick scoring tied the game once again.
Gordon’s quick rebound off Jokic’s miss under pressure from James Harden sealed the deal, sparking celebrations from the Nuggets and leaving the Clippers in disbelief as the referees reviewed the play.
“That was a hell of a play by Gordon,” commented Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
Dominating the third quarter, the Nuggets surged ahead, outscoring the Clippers 35-19 to lead 85-65. However, the Clippers fought back fiercely in the fourth, with Leonard, Harden, and Powell leading a 34-16 run.
The game also saw a mid-court altercation, with technicals given to Jokic, Gordon, and Braun of the Nuggets, and offsetting fouls assigned to Harden, Powell, and Kris Dunn of the Clippers. Despite tensions, there were no serious consequences, as no punches were confirmed.
Clippers fans, hoping for an ejection, chanted against Gordon, but the team’s offensive struggles continued. They shot 39 of 88 in field goals and 10 for 30 from beyond the arc, lagging behind the Nuggets for much of the game.
During this critical match, Russell Westbrook of the Nuggets was absent due to left foot inflammation.