There’s no stopping on-court brawls this season. And Aaron Gordon joins the saga.
Recently, James Harden and Christian Braun were involved in a confrontation that led to a skirmish during Game 4.
The incident occurred with only 6.6 seconds left on the clock, as Harden, closely defended by Braun, was fouled. Following the foul, Harden and Braun exchanged words at midcourt.
Standing just a couple of steps away, Nikola Jokic approached the situation and pushed Harden to the other side. However, it only led to increased tensions.
“I can’t let nobody step up on the young fellas,” Gordon later expressed his protective instincts towards the younger players on his team.
IN-HOUSE ANGLE OF THE SCUFFLE BETWEEN NUGGETS & CLIPPERS! 😳
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) April 26, 2025
James Harden didn’t like a Christian Braun foul, & Aaron Gordon went AT Harden!
No ejections were made.
Via. @joeylinn_ pic.twitter.com/qIDdwfzbXX
During the altercation, Ivica Zubac from the Clippers attempted to intervene, but chaos ensued as players became entangled. After reviewing the incident, referees assessed technical fouls to Harden, Norman Powell, and Kris Dunn from the Clippers, in addition to Jokic, Gordon, and Braun from the Nuggets.
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The referee issued as many as six technical fouls before halftime. The game ended with Aaron Gordon’s buzzer-beating dunk, securing a 101-99 victory for the Denver Nuggets and tying the series at 2-2.
Also Read: Shaquille O’Neal Shocked Cleveland Allowed LeBron James To Bring His Family On The Team Plane
Crowd Chants For Aaron Gordon’s Ejection After James Harden Clash
While the temperature on the court was already electric, the crowd in the Intuit Dome was giving back as well.
Despite the brawl being a little too skimpy, where Gordon made some inadvertent contact with Clippers guard Norman Powell, no one got ejected from the game. Referee Zach Zarba explained that everyone had a role in the melee, so they all received equal penalties.
AARON GORDON DUNK AT THE BUZZER FOR THE NUGGETS WIN!!! 🚨🚨
— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2025
ONE OF THE CRAZIER ENDINGS YOU'LL SEE 🤯😱#TissotBuzzerBeater#YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/BVdHdAEP1Q
Nuggets interim coach David Adelman commented on the situation and suggested that many players could have been ejected.
However, there was one player who might be facing some scrutiny from the league: Michael Porter Jr. He had been sitting on the bench during the fracas but briefly stepped onto the court before being pulled back.
According to the rules, any player leaving the bench during an altercation could face fines or even a suspension.
