Fans could not help but notice Nikola Jokic’s icy reaction to Aaron Gordon’s game-winning dunk in Game 4 of the Denver Nuggets’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nuggets and Clippers were knotted up at 99 with just seconds to play in regulation when Jokic badly overshot a fadeaway jumper. Jokic’s airball served as a perfect lob for Gordon, who came over from the weak side for a putback dunk that stunned the crowd at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, Calif. Gordon’s slam gave Denver the 101-99 win to tie the series at 2-2 (video here).
The TNT broadcast had an alternate angle of the play, showing Jokic’s stone-faced reaction to the entire sequence. As Gordon and other members of the Nuggets’ team celebrated, Jokic made his way to the bench without showing a shred of excitement.
Nikola Jokic definitely didn’t think Aaron Gordon got his game winner off at first
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 27, 2025
Looks like he was ready for overtime pic.twitter.com/q6mZxr4VFe
Jokic may have been anticipating that the shot would not count. The three-time MVP could have also been frustrated that the Nuggets were even in that position, given that Denver had held a 22-point lead earlier in the quarter. Gordon’s shot was eventually ruled good. But even that hardly altered the expression on Jokic’s face.
Whatever the case, Nuggets fans have grown familiar with Jokic’s emotionless reactions to big shots. Look no further than the contested buzzer-beating three Jokic hit to end the first quarter. The Serbian walked away like it was nothing.
Nikola Jokic hitting these kind of shots and having no reaction to it at all will always be so funny to me pic.twitter.com/1Uaz6klMMA
— Culture Hardwood (@Culturehwood) April 26, 2025
Jokic put the team on his back in Game 4 with a monster performance. The All-Star center had 36 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists in the 101-99 win.
