Aaron Gordon hits insane buzzer-beater, Nuggets steal Game 1

The Denver Nuggets have stolen Game 1 121-119 thanks to an insane game-winning three from Aaron Gordon to cap a miraculous Mile High City comeback.

Gordon was the finishing touches on a historic Nikola Jokic game, where he scored 42 points, snagged 22 rebounds and threw six assists. Jokic was the first player in NBA history to achieve those marks in a playoff game.

The Nuggets first lead since the first quarter was in the final second, when Gordon hit the shot from the wing just before the horn. It was former Thunder great Russell Westbrook with the assist on the winner. It came just after Chet Holmgren missed two free throws.

Gordon might not be known as a shooter but this season he shot 14.6% better from three-point range and 15.2% better from the free throw line than he did in 2023-24. He’s the first player in NBA history to improve by at least 10% in both categories in a single season.

There were large stretches of the game the Nuggets looked bound to lose and coming off of a Game 7 against the Clippers just 24 hours earlier, the result was stunning. Denver was double-digit underdog going into the game.

AARON GORDON FOR THE WIN!

Nuggets STEAL Game 1! #MileHighPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Il7yW3xhnc

— Denver Sports 104.3 (@DenSports1043) May 6, 2025

Gordon’s three capped a 15-4 Nuggets run to win the game.

AG CALLED GAME 🔥💯

DENVER ENDS THE GAME ON A 15-4 RUN TO WIN. https://t.co/s9ikSsHFuZ pic.twitter.com/pXvKfFiz3L

— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025

“Aaron is going to be a hero again,” Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said. “But I’m also looking at 14 rebounds. I’m looking at 22 points. I’m looking at ball handling, responsibilities, leadership. He is a Denver Nugget man, like he is the soul of our team. So cool to see him. Have two moments that no one will ever forget.”

“So when you have that, and you’re just communicating about trying to win a game, and not all the other crap that can go on,” Adelman said. “You give yourself a chance, and we did. The ball bounced our way, we got an opportunity, and Aaron knocked it down.”

Game 2 of Nuggets-Thunder is on Wednesday.