INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Aaron Gordon slammed down Nikola Jokic’s miss as time expired to carry the Denver Nuggets over the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 on Saturday to tie their playoff sequence 2-2.
Video assessment confirmed the ball left Gordon’s arms 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 steer 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 cut up their two video games on the new Intuit Dome.
Sport 5 is Monday in Denver.
A skirmish between the groups close to the tip of the primary half resulted in six technical fouls, together with on Jokic.
The Clippers led for the primary time within the recreation 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 precise 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 steer 85-65.
Leonard, Harden and Powell sparked the Clippers within the fourth, once they outscored Denver 34-16.
Jokic was one in every 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 received 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, but it surely didn’t 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 recreation.
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 1 for the Clippers.
Denver’s Russell Westbrook sat out with left foot irritation.
