In one of the wildest finishes of the postseason so far, the Denver Nuggets tied their playoff series with the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to an unexpected — and accidental — game-winning play between Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
With just seconds left on the clock and the game tied, Jokic attempted a turnaround jumper from the baseline. But instead of hitting the rim, the ball slipped awkwardly from his hands mid-release — only to fall perfectly into the hands of a cutting Aaron Gordon, who threw down a thunderous dunk with 1.2 seconds remaining.
The chaotic sequence stunned fans and even the players themselves.
“Yeah… definitely not a pass,” Jokic admitted postgame with a smirk. “I lost control of the ball. But sometimes, luck is part of the game.”
Gordon, who finished the night with 22 points and 9 rebounds, was quick to praise the timing — even if it wasn’t planned. “I’ll take the assist either way,” he laughed. “Right place, right time. We needed that one.”
The play has since gone viral on social media, with fans joking that Jokic might have invented a new kind of “no-look accidental lob.” Regardless of the intent, the win shifts momentum back in Denver’s favor as the series heads into a crucial Game 5.
“It wasn’t how we drew it up,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said, “but we’ll take it.”
