In a dramatic finish that will live long in NBA playoff history, Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beating dunk secured a thrilling 101-99 win for the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, tying their first-round series at 2-2.
With the game tied at 99 and just 1.8 seconds left, Nikola Jokić’s attempted shot appeared destined to send the contest into overtime after falling short. However, Gordon, alert to the opportunity, soared for a powerful dunk with just 0.1 seconds remaining. After an agonizing three-minute review, officials confirmed the basket had beaten the clock, triggering wild celebrations from the Nuggets and loud boos from the stunned Intuit Dome crowd.
Gordon’s slam made NBA history as the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in a playoff game since detailed play-by-play records began in 1997-98.
“Nice pass,” Gordon joked alongside Jokić during the post-game press conference. The Nuggets forward credited his positioning and Jokić’s quick shot for giving him the chance to make the decisive play. “I was just in the right place at the right time,” he said.
The Nuggets led narrowly at halftime, but the game’s first major flashpoint came late in the second quarter when James Harden and Christian Braun clashed near midcourt. A scuffle ensued, during which Gordon caught Clippers’ Norman Powell in the face. Despite chants of “Kick him out!” from the home fans, Gordon received only a technical foul, along with four other players.
Denver dominated the third quarter, building a 20-point lead behind a surge led by Jokić and Michael Porter Jr. However, the Clippers roared back in the fourth, with Kawhi Leonard scoring 10 points and Bogdan Bogdanović giving LA a late lead with just over a minute to play.
Jokić, who finished with a staggering 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists, briefly restored Denver’s lead with a free throw and basket. Ivica Zubac then tied the game once more before Gordon’s last-second heroics sealed it.
Gordon finished the night with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Braun and Porter Jr. each contributed 17 points. Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and nine rebounds.
The pivotal Game 5 will take place Tuesday night in Denver.
Elsewhere, Steph Curry powered the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets with 36 points, giving the Warriors a 2-1 series lead. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to reach the second round, completing a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies behind a 38-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
