Aaron Gordon slammed down Nikola Jokic’s miss as time expired to elevate the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 on Saturday to tie their playoff collection 2-2.
Video evaluation confirmed the ball left Gordon’s fingers above the rim simply earlier than the buzzer sounded after the Nuggets had blown a 22-point lead.
Jokic had 36 factors, 21 rebounds and eight assists to guide the Nuggets. Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun had 17 factors apiece.
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 factors for the Clippers. Norman Powell added 22 and Ivica Zubac had 19 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Nuggets break up their two video games on the new Intuit Dome. Recreation 5 is Monday in Denver.
A skirmish between the groups close to the top of the primary half resulted in six technical fouls, together with on Jokic.
The Clippers led for the primary time within the sport at 97-96 on Bogdan Bogdanovic’s offensive rebound and basket with 1:11 remaining.
Jokic’s free throw and basket put Denver again in entrance, 99-97, earlier than Zubac tied it.
Jokic’s 3-point try from the correct facet soared lengthy over the basket, however Gordon sprang for the rebound with James Harden on his again and slammed it down. The groups had been left in suspense whereas the referees reviewed the play.
The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 35-19 within the third to guide 85-65.
Leonard, Harden and Powell sparked the Clippers within the fourth, after they outscored Denver 34-16.
Jokic was certainly one of three Nuggets, together with Gordon and Braun, to obtain technicals for the mid-court melee with 6.6 seconds left. Harden, Powell and Kris Dunn of the Clippers bought offsetting fouls after the referees determined no closed fist punches had been thrown.
The confrontation riled up Clippers followers, who chanted, “Throw him out!” at Gordon, nevertheless it did not do a lot for the house staff. Los Angeles struggled offensively, taking pictures 39-of-88 and simply 10-of-30 from 3-point vary whereas trailing many of the complete sport.
The Nuggets led by two at halftime earlier than breaking the sport open within the third. They outscored the Clippers 35-17 to enter the fourth forward 85-65. Jokic had 14 factors and the Nuggets hit 5 3-pointers to at least one for the Clippers.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook sat out with left foot irritation.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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