Nikola Jokic is known for his calm, almost emotionless demeanor on the court, but even he had a moment of pure panic in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers. With the game tied at 99-99 and just seconds left on the clock, Jokic took a heavily contested turnaround three-pointer over Ivica Zubac. The ball floated off his hand awkwardly, and Jokic immediately knew it was trouble.
“This is gonna be bad,” Jokic admitted postgame when asked what he was thinking as the ball left his hands.
"This is gonna be bad." 😭
Nikola Jokic on what was going through his mind on his final shot 😅 pic.twitter.com/69aNz7o6xv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 27, 2025
He was right. The shot was nowhere near the rim. Yet in a twist of fate that will go down in playoff history, Aaron Gordon came flying in, caught the airball mid-air, and slammed it through the hoop as the buzzer sounded, giving the Nuggets a stunning 101-99 win and tying the series at 2-2.
The dunk was so close that it required an official review, but the replay confirmed Gordon had released the ball before the red light went off.
“It was a nice pass,” Gordon joked afterward, smiling when talking about Jokic’s near-disaster.
Aaron Gordon on the game winner: "It was a nice pass"
Jokic: "Yes"
"Was it a pass?"
"No, no it wasn't" 😂 pic.twitter.com/AYxK9xGeaD
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 27, 2025
It was a wild ending to a game that Denver nearly let slip away. After building a 22-point lead and dominating most of the night behind Jokic’s monster performance—36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists- the Nuggets collapsed in the fourth quarter.
The Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, and James Harden, stormed back, outscoring Denver 34-16 in the final period and tying the game with eight seconds left after an Ivica Zubac tip-in.
The final possession, drawn up for Jokic to create something, ended with the MVP-caliber center forced into a difficult shot. As the ball veered off target, it looked like overtime was inevitable until Gordon’s incredible reaction saved the day.
The play instantly went viral, with NBA fans left in shock. Memes exploded on social media, with many calling it one of the wildest game-winners ever.
Gordon, who had told reporters after Game 3 that he could barely jump due to lingering injuries, defied gravity when it mattered most. His final stat line of 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists was modest, but no number could capture the significance of that last play.
For Jokic, it was a sigh of relief rather than a triumphant moment. Despite his own excellence all night, he knew his shot had been awful. Without Gordon’s quick thinking and athleticism, the narrative would have been about Denver’s epic collapse. Instead, they now head back to Ball Arena for Game 5 with new life.
As for Jokic, all he could do was laugh. In a season where he has carried Denver through countless battles, it was fitting that in one moment of weakness, a teammate picked him up with one of the most incredible finishes we have ever seen.
