Nuggets Stun Clippers with Aaron Gordon's Last-Second Dunk
Nuggets' Aaron Gordon pulls off thrilling buzzer-beater putback slam to shock Clippers in Game 4.
In a nail-biting, heated match, Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon pulled off an electrifying buzzer-beater in Game 4 of the team's first-round clash against the LA Clippers on Saturday.
Gordon, who contributed 14 points and six rebounds, showcased his remarkable athleticism by snatching a 3-point shot from Nikola Jokic off the rim and dunking it sheer moments before the buzzer, giving Denver an exhilarating 101-99 victory and tying the series at 2 games apiece.
While crew chief Zach Zarba carefully reviewed the play, he announced: "The ball had just left Gordon's hand before the LED light."
Just seconds prior, Clippers center Ivan Zubac had equalized the score at 99 with a tip-in of James Harden's miss, leaving eight seconds on the clock. Jokic, who secured a team-leading 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists, elevated Denver yet again with a fadeaway jumper to secure a two-point lead on the previous possession. Michael Porter Jr and Christian Braun added 17 points apiece to bolster Denver's triumph. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and 9 rebounds.
Gordon's game-winning dunk averted potential disaster for the Nuggets. After building an impressive 22-point lead earlier in the fourth quarter, Denver allowed the Clippers to mount a comeback, even giving away the lead for a brief moment. Despite the momentum shifting in the Clippers' favor, Gordon snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the stroke of midnight, giving the Nuggets a significant boost for Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 in Denver.
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Insights
- Historical Feat: Aaron Gordon's buzzer-beating dunk was the first of its kind in the postseason [1].
- Jokic's Impact: The two-time MVP's all-around brilliance anchored Denver's clawback [1].
- Defensive Errors: The Clippers' poor box-out strategy on the final play cost them dearly, shifting the series momentum [1].
[1] Enrichment data
- Aaron Gordon's incredible buzzer-beater in 2025 NBA basketball, a last-second dunk against the LA Clippers in a heated Game 4, secured a vital victory for the Denver Nuggets, tying the series at 2 games apiece.
- Despite the impressive performance of Nikola Jokic, who scored a team-leading 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists in the match, it was Gordon who stole the show with his electrifying buzzer-beater, showcasing his remarkable athleticism.
- The Denver Nuggets nearly faced disaster in the match, having allowed the LA Clippers to mount a thrilling comeback after building a significant 22-point lead earlier in the fourth quarter.
- In the 2025 NBA sports season, the performance of Kawhi Leonard, who led the Clippers with 24 points and 9 rebounds, was overshadowed by Aaron Gordon's game-winning dunk and the outstanding contributions from teammates such as Michael Porter Jr and Christian Braun.
