Aaron Gordon drilled a game-winning three-pointer with below 4 seconds remaining to finish a shocking 14-point comeback because the Denver Nuggets defeated the top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder 121-119 in Recreation 1 of their Western Convention semifinal sequence.
The clutch shot marks Gordon’s second game-winner of those playoffs, coming simply 10 days after his buzzer-beating dunk towards the LA Clippers within the first spherical.
“After I shot it, did I do know it was in?” Gordon stated after the sport. “I knew it wasn’t a miss.”
Gordon’s Three-Level Evolution Key To Denver’s Success
Gordon has reworked his outdoors capturing, connecting on a career-high 43.6% from three-point vary this season—a major enchancment from his profession common of 33.1%.
“He lives in a gymnasium, actually,” Christian Braun defined, referencing the warehouse Gordon transformed into his residence in Denver, full with a halfcourt the place he practices in any respect hours. “When you possibly can roll off the bed and go to your gymnasium shoot, that helps a bit bit.”
The Nuggets acquired Gordon in 2021 particularly to enrich Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray along with his rebounding and inside scoring, however his growth as a three-point shooter has added one other dimension to Denver’s offense.
“He’s the soul of this crew,” Jokic stated. “He in all probability does not get as a lot respect as he deserves. However I believe he does not want it.”
Jokic Dominant Regardless of Thunder’s Bodily Protection
Jokic completed with a monstrous 42 factors and 22 rebounds regardless of battling foul bother all through the sport. The reigning MVP scored 18 factors within the fourth quarter alone because the Nuggets closed the sport on a 15-4 run.
The Nuggets overcame a nine-point deficit within the closing three minutes, changing into the primary crew to perform such a comeback since 2015.
“We have been by way of loads with this group,” Gordon added. “We have come from behind in loads of video games. It isn’t essentially what we’re attempting to do, or what we need to do. However we all know we have been in that place… We have now a number of poise on this group. Numerous grit.”
