Nikola Jokic’s game-winning 3-pointer seals Denver Nuggets’ comeback win over Golden State Warriors
By Kendra Andrews, ESPN
January 5, 2024, 02:26 AM ET
In a breathtaking finish to their game against the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic sank a 39-foot 3-pointer to secure a 130-127 victory for his team. The shot, which banked off the glass and rattled in, came with just 3.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter. This was the sealing shot on a 25-4 Nuggets run over the final 6:45 of the game, including a 13-0 run.
Even Jokic himself was confident about his game-winning shot, saying, “I just took a shot. I think those shots are the easiest shots to take. You don’t have any other options. So actually, when I felt it, I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to bank this.’ You can see the flight of the ball, and I just knew I was going to bank it.”
Jokic’s incredible shot capped off a remarkable comeback for the Nuggets, who trailed by 18 points heading into the fourth quarter after a dominant showing from the Warriors in the third. Despite the deficit, the Nuggets never gave up and managed to turn the game around through aggressive play and solid defense.
Coach Michael Malone commended his team’s resilience and mindset, saying, “The most aggressive team is going to win. … I felt like when the game was on the line, we were the more aggressive team.”
In addition to Jokic’s heroics, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray also played pivotal roles in the Nuggets’ comeback, finishing with 30 points and 25 points, respectively.
The win over the Warriors marked the seventh time this season the Nuggets had a lead of 10 or more points and still lost, highlighting the team’s never-say-die attitude.
Ultimately, it was Jokic’s remarkable shot and the team’s collective effort that secured the thrilling victory for the Nuggets, leaving both players and fans in awe of the momentous win.