There were exciting moments in the National Basketball Association Playoffs this past weekend. You could make the argument the most exciting game came at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99 in game four of the Western Conference quarterfinals to tie the series at two.
This game appeared to be over in the early stages of the fourth quarter when the Nuggets took an 87-65 lead on a seven foot hook shot by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic of Sombor, Serbia. Then we saw a great comeback by the Clippers. Los Angeles actually went on a 32-9 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 97-96 lead. The Nuggets then went up 99-97 on a field goal and free throw by Jokic. That was followed by a layup by Clippers center Ivica Zubac of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina to tie the score at 99.
For a while, we then seemed destined for overtime. That is when the Nuggets delivered the victory with fourth quarter magic. Jokic missed a three-point shot with a second left. However, Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon of San Jose, California was there for the offensive rebound. Gordon then dunked the basketball before time expired as Denver tied the best out of seven series at two games apiece. It was the very first buzzer beater dunk in NBA Playoff history according to Liam McKeone of Sports Illustrated.
We have had many dunks before. However, could this dunk be considered the most significant and most exciting in NBA history? When you take a look at the context of the dunk and its meaning at the time, my answer is yes. What do you think?
