The Denver Nuggets edged out the LA Clippers in a nail-biting finish during Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs. On April 26, 2025, Aaron Gordon won a contest to be remembered. Air Gordon bounced around the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. With only seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he hit the winning dunk shot, giving his team an important win. This victory puts the Nuggets up 2-1 in their best of five playoff series.
He scored a game-high 36 points vs. Houston Rockets. He celebrated his 60th career scoring 30 or more points in the playoffs. This record shattering accomplishment cements his legacy even more as one of the game’s all time greats. Gary Payton II figured prominently, scoring a postseason career-high 16 points. His performance proved crucial in the Warriors choking the Rockets’ shooting ability from deep.
Key Moments of the Game
From that game, the exhilarating overtime thriller between the Nuggets and Clippers, it was Gordon’s juice that really tipped the scale. After Nikola Jokic air-balled a three pointer, Gordon quickly jumped into action to corral the rebound. He then followed it up with an insane dunk that sealed the victory! We all hope that this moment will stand out as one of the high points of this magnificent series.
Head coach David Adelman had something to say in regards to the importance of Gordon’s play.
“That’s going to be on NBA TV someday and I’m glad we won the game. I’m glad it will be on Nuggets Day and not Clippers Day,” – David Adelman.
Friday night’s contest included a high-octane barrage of swings, both teams getting their chapter of the story to be told, tit-for-tat. The Clippers just didn’t have the juice to match their opponent’s intensity. They got outpaced as the Nuggets hit a number of vital shots down the stretch of the fourth quarter.
Warriors Dominate Beyond the Arc
In a different playoff clash that same night though, the Golden State Warriors were battling the Houston Rockets. Stephen Curry led his team with a commanding performance, scoring 36 points, while Buddy Hield contributed significantly with five 3-pointers to account for most of his 17 points. Golden State had a major advantage on the scoreboard, knocking down 42 threes to Houston’s 33.
Gary Payton II was the key in changing the momentum for Golden State. He gave his team a crucial lead with a layup, then followed it up with another layup, a three-pointer, and an impressive dunk during a personal 9-point run that energized his teammates.
Curry further inspired confidence by underscoring his talented teammates, reiterating their collective talent.
“You just kinda have to grind it out. We had 22 points halfway through the [second quarter]. You wonder, how are we going to score? You just stick with it and make the right plays,” – Curry.
Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun(R) battled with 17 and 15 points. Unfortunately, all of that effort still fell short of securing a win for the Houston Rockets. VanVleet admitted that teams have to adjust to stop Curry’s scoring ability.
“Everybody has confidence. That’s the beauty of our team,” – Curry.
Rockets Struggle Despite Strong Individual Performances
The Rockets struggled all night, particularly in defending the Warriors’ three-point shooting. The pairing of Curry’s sharpshooting and Hield’s shot making ability was more than they could withstand.
“We’re not going to hold him to 3 points every time we play him. We have to understand that,” – Fred VanVleet.
The Rockets faced challenges throughout the game, particularly in defending against the Warriors’ perimeter shooting. The combination of Curry’s sharpshooting and Hield’s contributions proved too much for them to handle.
