The Denver Nuggets stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 in Game 1, as Aaron Gordon knocked down the game-winning three-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder leading by one, the Denver Nuggets needed to send Chet Holmgren to the charity stripe with 9.5 seconds left. The former second overall pick missed his two free throw attempts, and the Denver Nuggets raced down to the other side of the floor.
Christian Braun grabbed the rebound and gave it to Russell Westbrook, who drive and kicked it to an open Aaron Gordon, and Gordon converted the go-ahead three-point shot.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were out of timeouts, and Jalen Williams’ halfcourt heave had no chance of going in.
Denver Nuggets News: Aaron Gordon lauds Russell Westbrook for his game-winning assist
Many Denver Nuggets fans thought Russell Westbrook will drive to the rim and probably miss after he received the ball in the team’s final possession. Instead, the one-time league MVP had the presence of mind to swing the ball to a trailing Aaron Gordon, who scored his second game-winner in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
“The right play is the open man. Russ makes the right play a lot of times. I saw the paint was clogged. I thought that was the best look that we’re going to get,” Gordon said in his postgame interview.
Gordon finished the game with 22 points and 14 rebounds on 7-for-15 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, his frontcourt partner Nikola Jokic had another monster night with 42 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks on 15-for-29 shooting from the field and 10-for-13 from the free throw line.
