Aaron Gordon’s Buzzer-Beater Dunk Leaves Mark on Nuggets Lore

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The legend of Aaron Gordon grows by the day. Since joining the Denver Nuggets, he has made 575 field goals in the regular season and 96 more in the playoffs, accounting for about 19% of his shots with the team. His recent buzzer-beater dunk in Game 4 of the first playoff round has solidified his place in Nuggets history.

Interim coach David Adelman highlighted the significance of Gordon’s performance, emphasizing the physical sacrifices he makes for the team. “He’s taking a chance every time he explodes and jumps,” Adelman said ahead of the Nuggets’ second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. “We know there’s a risk there.”

Gordon’s right calf has been a concern all season, causing him to miss 31 games and come off the bench in nine others. He initially strained the muscle last November and has fought through pain since then, even during the playoffs. “It’s the ultimate day-to-day with Aaron,” Adelman explained. “I don’t think we’d be seeing this if it were during the regular season.”

Throughout the playoffs, Gordon has shown exceptional performance, averaging 18.9 points per game—4.2 more than his regular-season average—along with 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He has played strong defense against opponents like Kawhi Leonard and dominated in crucial moments, including his walk-off dunk that tied the series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

<p“How good was he in Game 7?” Adelman asked. “So efficient. Aaron is incredible, man. The Game 4 play he made, that’s an all-time series for Aaron Gordon.”

The Nuggets now face a daunting challenge against the top-seeded Thunder. This playoff series marks the first time Denver has won in seven games and dealt with a quick turnaround since the 2020 bubble. The schedule is intense, with only one day between Game 7 and the start of the second round, and each of the first six games will be played with just one day of rest.

<p“I think the advantage is rest,” Adelman noted. However, his team remains optimistic. Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic reportedly prefers the rhythm of playing every other day. The odds are stacked against the Nuggets; historically, 14 of the 15 teams that won a seven-game playoff series went on to lose to a team that swept its previous round.

<p“This team is especially strong,” Adelman said. “They finished the season 72-14. That’s a daunting challenge,” he added after Game 7 against the Clippers.