The Denver Nuggets tied up their first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers at 2-2 with a 101-99 win at the Intuit Dome on Saturday. This contest had one of the craziest finishes to a playoff game in recent memory, as Aaron Gordon caught an errant Nikola Jokic shot mid-air and dunked at the buzzer to win the game for the Nuggets.
While Gordon’s game-winning dunk and the Nuggets blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead prior to that were the big talking points from the game, there was one other big moment. Toward the end of the second quarter, a big scuffle broke out on the court.
Gordon, Christian Braun and James Harden were at the center of it, and they, along with Jokic, Norman Powell and Kris Dunn, were given technical fouls. There were calls for Gordon to get ejected as he connected with Powell’s face, but official Zach Zarba stated in the Pool Report that no one involved used clenched fists, so technicals were all they’d get.
The Nuggets would have breathed a sigh of relief, but that scuffle might still end up costing them in a big way in this series. Michael Porter Jr., who was not in the game at that time, left the bench and got as far as the free-throw line during the scuffle. That act might result in him getting suspended for Game 5.
James Harden didn’t like Christian Braun’s foul and the Clippers and Nuggets go at it pic.twitter.com/Fxq8brOK2H
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 26, 2025
A Nuggets coach was desperately trying to hold Porter back, but to no avail. Here is what the NBA rule book says about players who are not in the game leaving the bench during a scuffle.
“During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be subject to suspension, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000.”
Porter does not seem to be in the immediate vicinity of the Nuggets’ bench. The 26-year-old later admitted to reporters postgame that he was not aware of the rule.
Michael Porter Jr. on leaving the bench during the Clippers-Nuggets scuffle:
“Sorry. I didn’t know the specific rule. I’m glad I didn’t make it very far… To see my guys get in it like that, I’m just glad I didn’t make it very far. The coaches and my teammates were aware.… pic.twitter.com/gXaklGQqf6
– Joey Line (@Jeyline_) April 27, 2025
Time will tell if the NBA decides to suspend Porter for Game 5, which will be at the Ball Arena on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET. He had 17 points, four rebounds and two assists in Game 4.
Related: Fans in Disbelief Over Controversial Nuggets-Clippers Ending
