Aaron Gordon drilled a game-winning three-pointer with under four seconds remaining to complete a stunning 14-point comeback as the Denver Nuggets defeated the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
The clutch shot marks Gordon's second game-winner of these playoffs, coming just 10 days after his buzzer-beating dunk against the LA Clippers in the first round.
"When I shot it, did I know it was in?" Gordon said after the game. "I knew it wasn't a miss."
Gordon's Three-Point Evolution Key To Denver's Success
Gordon has transformed his outside shooting, connecting on a career-high 43.6% from three-point range this season—a significant improvement from his career average of 33.1%.
"He lives in a gym, literally," Christian Braun explained, referencing the warehouse Gordon converted into his home in Denver, complete with a halfcourt where he practices at all hours. "When you can roll out of bed and go to your gym shoot, that helps a little bit."
The Nuggets acquired Gordon in 2021 specifically to complement Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray with his rebounding and interior scoring, but his development as a three-point shooter has added another dimension to Denver's offense.
"He is the soul of this team," Jokic said. "He probably doesn't get as much respect as he deserves. But I think he doesn't need it."
Jokic Dominant Despite Thunder's Physical Defense
Jokic finished with a monstrous 42 points and 22 rebounds despite battling foul trouble throughout the game. The reigning MVP scored 18 points in the fourth quarter alone as the Nuggets closed the game on a 15-4 run.
The Nuggets overcame a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes, becoming the first team to accomplish such a comeback since 2015.
"We've been through a lot with this group," Gordon added. "We've come from behind in plenty of games. It's not necessarily what we're trying to do, or what we want to do. But we know we've been in that position... We have a lot of poise in this group. A lot of grit."
