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The Nuggets won another game with a thrilling ending in Game 3 on their home court.
Denver now has a 2-1 lead over the Thunder and can win out with home-court advantage, only having to win the rest of the series at home.
Game 3 was a rare poor performance from MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, who shot 8-25 from the field, including 0-10 from 3.
It was a career night for Jokic — and not in a good way.
Jokic career-lows tonight:
— Worst TS% in a playoff game
— Most turnovers in a playoff game
— Most missed threes in a playoff game
— 2nd most missed shots in a playoff game
and the Nuggets won the game. pic.twitter.com/lS6iqsccgZ
With Jokic struggling, someone needed to step up. Jamal Murray put 27 points in a 48-minute performance, but he wasn't the "X-factor" that led to this win and some of the games the Nuggets stole before Game 3.
That would be Aaron Gordon.
MORE: Why Nuggets' Nikola Jokić deserves to win MVP over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Aaron Gordon continues to be clutch for the Nuggets
After Jokic missed a layup with 54.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter, OKC looked like they were on their way to going up 2-1 in the series, as they had the ball up three.
SGA went on to miss a jump shot on the other end with 37.1 seconds to go, giving the Nuggets one last chance.
They immediately pushed the ball up the floor and got the ball to Aaron Gordon, who sank a corner 3 to tie the game and send it to overtime.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 10, 2025MORE: Nikola Jokic lives up to nickname with supervillain outfit
This isn't the first time in this series that Gordon hit a timely 3.
Gordon hit the game-winner in a shocking win at OKC in Game 1.
AARON GORDON 3 FOR THE WIN!!!@nuggets take Game 1 in a THRILLER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fxV2ReRPZA
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025Had Gordon not hit those two 3s, Denver would likely be down 3-0 right now.
Gordon also had one of the most impressive dunks to beat the buzzer and win Game 4 for Denver to tie the series against the Clippers 2-2.
Gordon now has 21 clutch points in the playoffs, ranking behind only Jalen Brunson (41) for most in the league.
AARON GORDON PUTBACK DUNK AT THE BUZZER TO WIN IT FOR THE NUGGETS 😱 pic.twitter.com/BE8iVeqbvM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 27, 2025The story is more than just a quality playoff run for Gordon, though.
Gordon is playing for his late brother Drew Gordon, who passed away in a car accident last year.
Gordon has since taken care of two of his brother's children and has changed his number to 32 to honor his brother.
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