Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon #50 reacts after his extra-time game against the Phoenix Suns at the Ball Arena on Dec. 25. Gordon wowed the home fans with a superb pitch late in extra time.
Photos Justin Tafoya/Getty
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Photos Justin Tafoya/Getty
Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon #50 reacts after his extra-time game against the Phoenix Suns at the Ball Arena on December 25. Gordon wowed the home fans with a superb pitch late in extra time.
Photos Justin Tafoya/Getty
Aaron Gordon gave Denver a late Christmas present on Sunday night.
In the Western Conference head-to-head, the December 25 NBA game between the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns was extended to stoppage time. Then, with about 30 seconds left and Denver was leading Phoenix 124-123, Sun guard Landry Shamet failed to make a shot that could put Phoenix ahead.
That’s when Gordon, the Denver forward, grabbed the bounce and dashed down the pitch. There he meets Shamet, who is trying to block the lane. Despite the inevitable distance from the belt, Gordon launched himself into the air. He continued to rush forward, even as he collided with Shamet, and threw the basketball into the net. The crowd went wild as Gordon fell back to earth.
ESPN’s Tim Bontemps tweeted that Gordon’s Christmas move “is easily on the short list of the best dribbles in the game I’ve ever seen, especially considering this moment.”
Denver capitalized on the gravity-defying move as the Nuggets finished with a 128-125 victory.
Gordon said it was the best in-game pitch he’s ever had “because of the timing and the score.”
Moments captured in a single image by Garrett Ellwood, an NBA photographer. In it, as Gordon flies towards the hoop and Shamet is being pushed to the floor, every player seems to have a look of disbelief on their faces. It was as if Gordon challenged a law of physics before them.
