Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon Share Laugh Over Accidental ‘Assist’ on Game-Winning Dunk
Nikola Jokic might not have intended it, but he set up Aaron Gordon for the perfect game-winner.
After getting dominated in Game 3 and blowing a 22-point lead in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets were running on fumes. The Clippers had all the momentum heading toward overtime — until Aaron Gordon changed everything.
When Jokic’s fallaway three-pointer missed badly, Gordon was perfectly positioned to grab the ball and slam it home, sealing a dramatic 101-99 win for Denver. After a tense review, officials confirmed Gordon had just beaten the buzzer, delivering one of the tightest finishes you’ll ever see.
Jokic’s miss was so off-target it looked like an alley-oop designed for Gordon. The duo had a good laugh about it afterward.
Aaron Gordon: “It was a nice pass.”
Nikola Jokic: “Yes.”
Reporter: “Joker, was it really a pass?”
Jokic: “No, no it wasn’t.” 😂
Before the wild finish, Jokic hit a tough step-back jumper over Ivica Zubac to give Denver a 99-97 lead. After James Harden tied it up, Gordon’s clutch dunk stole the win and tied the series at 2-2 heading back to Denver.
The Nuggets had built a huge third-quarter lead but saw it slip away thanks to Tyronn Lue’s smart adjustments, including a tricky zone defense. Still, Jokic delivered his best performance of the series, finishing with 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists. Gordon chipped in 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a strong all-around showing.
With the win, Denver reclaimed home-court advantage. The Clippers will now need a road win at Ball Arena to keep their playoff hopes alive, starting with Game 5 on Tuesday night.
