To say that Game 4 between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets was a thrilling matchup would be an understatement.
The Clippers came all the way back after the Nuggets mounted an 11-point lead with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Aaron Gordon, however, saved the day for Denver with a mind-blowing buzzer-beating putback dunk with 0.1 seconds on the clock.
It was the perfect ending to what was an epic clash between two unrelenting sides as the Nuggets evened out the series at 2-2.
More than a few fans do not agree with this notion, though. In fact, the controversial finish has caused quite a stir on social media.
“Someone should have investigate the refs banks account cause lol,” a comment on X read.
“They must have been looking at a different video than the game one. Ball clearly was still touching his hand,” said another.
“this is an asterisk rigged ‘win’ for the nuggets highly rigged by the refs. refs were in bed last night with White Aaron Gordon (and clearly since game 1) like they literally rewarded murray for instigating fights too with free throws LOL karma is coming for them,” declared a fan.
The crew chief from the referees who officiated Game 4 has now spoken out about the controversy. In the official pool report, head ref Zach Zarba explained why they deemed Gordon’s basket to be good.
“We make a ruling on the floor,” Zarba said, via Clippers beat reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “The ruling on the floor from the game officials was a good basket. It then automatically goes to the Replay Center official. The Replay Center official, after taking a good look at it, found clear and conclusive evidence that the ball was out of Gordon’s hands when the red light came on to end the game. That’s why it was ruled a good basket.
“It has to be out of his hand when that red light is on. That’s what we’re looking for. It’s not the cylinder of the rim — it’s whether it’s in contact with his hand or not when that red light comes on.”
Here’s the angle that Crew Chief Zach Zarba says the Replay Center officials used.
From this angle, it shows that the ball was out of Aaron Gordon’s hands at the buzzer.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 27, 2025
Unfortunately for the Clippers, this decision is final, and there’s simply no changing the fact that this series is now tied at 2-2.
L.A. will need to move on from this heartbreak quickly as they prepare for Game 5 on Tuesday. This series now shifts back to Denver for Game 5, which puts the Nuggets in an excellent position to take control of what has been an incredible first-round clash.
Related: Historic Nikola Jokic News Draws Quick Response From NBA
To say that Game 4 between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets was a thrilling matchup would be an understatement.
The Clippers came all the way back after the Nuggets mounted an 11-point lead with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Aaron Gordon, however, saved the day for Denver with a mind-blowing buzzer-beating putback dunk with 0.1 seconds on the clock.
It was the perfect ending to what was an epic clash between two unrelenting sides as the Nuggets evened out the series at 2-2.
More than a few fans do not agree with this notion, though. In fact, the controversial finish has caused quite a stir on social media.
“Someone should have investigate the refs banks account cause lol,” a comment on X read.
“They must have been looking at a different video than the game one. Ball clearly was still touching his hand,” said another.
“this is an asterisk rigged ‘win’ for the nuggets highly rigged by the refs. refs were in bed last night with White Aaron Gordon (and clearly since game 1) like they literally rewarded murray for instigating fights too with free throws LOL karma is coming for them,” declared a fan.
The crew chief from the referees who officiated Game 4 has now spoken out about the controversy. In the official pool report, head ref Zach Zarba explained why they deemed Gordon’s basket to be good.
“We make a ruling on the floor,” Zarba said, via Clippers beat reporter Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “The ruling on the floor from the game officials was a good basket. It then automatically goes to the Replay Center official. The Replay Center official, after taking a good look at it, found clear and conclusive evidence that the ball was out of Gordon’s hands when the red light came on to end the game. That’s why it was ruled a good basket.
“It has to be out of his hand when that red light is on. That’s what we’re looking for. It’s not the cylinder of the rim — it’s whether it’s in contact with his hand or not when that red light comes on.”
Here’s the angle that Crew Chief Zach Zarba says the Replay Center officials used.
From this angle, it shows that the ball was out of Aaron Gordon’s hands at the buzzer.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 27, 2025
Unfortunately for the Clippers, this decision is final, and there’s simply no changing the fact that this series is now tied at 2-2.
L.A. will need to move on from this heartbreak quickly as they prepare for Game 5 on Tuesday. This series now shifts back to Denver for Game 5, which puts the Nuggets in an excellent position to take control of what has been an incredible first-round clash.
Related: Historic Nikola Jokic News Draws Quick Response From NBA
