Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is widely recognized as one of the most electrifying in-game dunkers in the NBA. He has the ability to deliver jaw-dropping slams regardless of who stands in the paint. However, in a critical moment late in the fourth quarter on Monday night, Gordon faced no defenders; instead, he confronted an open path to the basket. As he soared to score what should have been an easy dunk, he unexpectedly slammed the ball into the back of the rim, causing it to ricochet out of bounds. This miss left the Nuggets trailing 98-97 instead of leading 99-98 with less than three minutes remaining.
In a tense playoff atmosphere, the Nuggets walked off the court in disbelief after suffering a 105-102 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of their thrilling first-round playoff series. With the series now tied at 1-1, Gordon's missed dunk, although not the sole reason for the loss, underscored the series of mistakes that plagued the team throughout the game. Nuggets interim coach David Adelman expressed his frustration, noting, "Just felt uphill all night," as the team struggled to maintain momentum after tying or taking leads.
Throughout Game 2, the Nuggets committed a staggering 20 turnovers, marking the first time they have reached this unwanted milestone in a postseason game since 2022. Star center Nikola Jokic contributed significantly to this issue with seven turnovers, matching his season high and falling just short of his playoff career high. Despite ranking 14th in the league during the regular season with a 14% turnover rate, the Nuggets had previously managed only 11 turnovers in Game 1. However, their inability to protect the ball proved detrimental on Monday night, especially in the game's final moments.
In the fourth quarter alone, the Nuggets committed five turnovers, including two in the critical final 1:35. A particularly damaging moment occurred when Michael Porter Jr. secured a rebound with the score tied at 100. He attempted to deliver an outlet pass to Gordon, but as Gordon was not looking, Porter was forced to change his plan at the last second. This miscommunication resulted in Porter hitting the floor in pain, while moments later, Norman Powell sank a three-pointer, giving the Clippers a lead they would not relinquish.
In addition to their turnover troubles, the Nuggets struggled at the free-throw line, missing eight shots and finishing 14 of 22 from the charity stripe. This marked the first time the team had taken over 20 free throws and shot under 65% in a playoff game since 2023. Jokic, an 80% free-throw shooter during the regular season, shot just 6 of 10 from the line, further compounding the Nuggets' missed opportunities.
As this playoff series unfolds, it has proven to be incredibly competitive, with the aggregate score standing at Clippers 115, Nuggets 114. Each game has been decided by three points or fewer, highlighting the importance of execution and minimizing mistakes. In their Game 1 loss, the Clippers also suffered from turnover issues, committing 20 turnovers. As the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3, both teams will need to prioritize taking care of the ball to tilt the series in their favor.
