Aaron Gordon made a game-winning dunk at the buzzer to lift the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 in Saturday’s Game 4, leveling the first-round series 2-2.
Gordon corralled a fadeaway shot attempt from Nikola Jokic and finished it with a two-handed slam. Officials reviewed the play for several minutes before confirming the basket.
“Airballs are really hard to defend against,” Gordon said about the play, according to Ben Golliver of The Washington Post.
Gordon called Jokic’s heave a “good pass,” according to the Denver Gazette’s Vinny Benedetto. Jokic later clarified that it wasn’t a pass.
“When the shot goes up, there’s no reason not to crash everybody,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman, per Golliver. “You can say it’s a lucky play, but that’s a big, athletic man. That’s going to be on NBA TV someday.”
The Nuggets blew a 22-point lead during the game, with Clippers wing Bogdan Bogdanovic putting Los Angeles ahead 97-96 with 1:11 remaining. Jokic tied the contest on a free throw, then gave Denver the lead with 0:16 left. Clippers center Ivica Zubac responded with an equalizing tip shot with eight seconds to go.
Gordon recorded 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists in the victory. Jokic led the team with 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists.
Gordon’s slam was the first game-winning buzzer-beating dunk in NBA postseason history, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in scoring with 24 points. Norman Powell added 22 points, while Zubac contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds.
The Nuggets host Game 5 on Tuesday.
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