INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Nikola Jokic had the ball in his hands with the chance to even up the series against the Clippers: Eight seconds left, score tied 99-99, and he was isolated on Ivica Zubac. Jokic spun for position, put up a shot, and admitted his thought as he released the ball was, “This is going to be bad.”

Aaron Gordon's putback dunk just beat the final buzzer, giving the Nuggets a dramatic 101-99 win over the Clippers after Denver squandered a 22-point lead.