Aaron Gordon Delivers Historic Buzzer-Beater to Secure Victory for Denver Nuggets

Dramatic Finish in Game 4

In a thrilling conclusion to Game 4 of the NBA playoff series, Aaron Gordon made history with a buzzer-beating dunk that led the Denver Nuggets to a 101-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The win equalizes the series at 2-2, setting the stage for an exhilarating remainder of the playoffs.

The Game’s Turning Point

The Clippers, having overcome a 22-point deficit in the final quarter, looked poised to force the game into overtime. With just seconds left, Nuggets star Nikola Jokić missed a crucial shot, leaving the fate of the game uncertain. However, Gordon soared for an offensive rebound and executed a stunning dunk just milliseconds before the buzzer sounded. Initially deemed a close call, the basket was confirmed after a lengthy review by officials, marking it as the first-ever game-winning buzzer-beater dunk in NBA playoff history.

Comments from Players and Analysts

“This is start of the most insane finishes you’ll ever see,” the official NBA account proclaimed. NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor echoed this sentiment, stating it was the most remarkable buzzer-beater since Kawhi Leonard’s unforgettable four-bouncer in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019. Sam Vecenie from The Athletic called it “perhaps the coolest buzzer-beater I’ve seen in the playoffs,” while ESPN described the moment as a “true classic.”

Kyrie Irving also shared his excitement, tweeting, “What a finish to that game! Insane game-winner!”

Following the game, an elated Gordon celebrated his first career game-winning shot. “It was huge. We did what we needed to do; we regained home-court advantage,” he stated. When asked about Jokić’s last shot, he humorously remarked, “I thought it was going to be bad.”

Jokić himself acknowledged the tension before the decisive dunk, recalling, “I thought, ‘This is going to be rough.'”

A Landmark Moment

According to ESPN Research, this exciting play has been cemented in history, signifying not just a crucial win for the Nuggets, but an iconic moment in playoff lore. NBA on ESPN highlighted it as perhaps the “craziest buzzer-beater ever.”

As the series moves forward, fans will be eager to see how the Nuggets capitalize on this momentum and if Gordon can continue to shine in high-pressure situations.

Photo Credit: Sport 5