Aaron Gordon recorded the first buzzer-beating, game-winning dunk in playoff history as the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 in Game 4 to even the series.
“I’m just trying to clean up everything on the glass,” said Gordon about the play.
Officials took several minutes to review the play of Gordon catching Nikola Jokic’s air ball for a dunk.
Referee Zach Zarba reported afterwards that there was “clear and conclusive evidence that the ball was out of Gordon’s hands when the red light came on to end the game.”
“It has to be out of his hand when the red light is on,” Zarba said. “It’s not the cylinder of the rim — it’s whether it’s in contact with his hand or not when that red light comes on.”
The Nuggets blew a 22-point fourth quarter lead before Gordon’s game winner, with the Clippers taking a one-point lead with 1:11 left in the game.
The Nuggets were without Russell Westbrook for Game 4’s win.Â
Three out of the four games in the series have been decided by three points or less.
Game 5 takes place on Tuesday night.Â
