Collect Moments from your 2024-25 Denver Nuggets featuring Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon!

On a bingo board of phrases a team might use to evaluate a 137-point showing, “ugly win” likely wouldn’t make the cut. Especially if one took into account the types of passes that the all-seeing Nikola Jokić delivered to cutters across the Philadelphia 76ers’ floor on January 31, 2025. Unquestioned already in regards to his Most Valuable Player credentials, the Denver Nuggets’ superstar lived up to basketball’s great three-word distinction once more, punishing Philadelphia’s any and every thought to overhelp. First came an over-the-shoulder, no-look room service dime to his longtime running mate to set up a score, followed by a one-handed skip pass, guiding a different teammate’s path shortly thereafter. Equally sensational when toggling into must-score mode, Jokić put an offensive heatwave on sizzle in the final period, using a 13-point, two-triple final quarter to help Denver survive a high-scoring fireworks show down the stretch. Mile High’s newly-named seven-time All-Star was in his usual Hall of Fame-bound form, as the scoreboard confirmed through 28 points (on 11-of-16 shooting), joined by nine rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers.

Nikola Jokić

Buckets can be acquired at any time, but after eight years of Mile High mastery, three scenarios are guaranteed to inspire Jamal Murray’s on-court apex: (1) crunchtime, (2) when the NBA’s 82-game calendar remotely approaches springtime, and (3) the sight of the Los Angeles Lakers. Eager to test the results of when all three are in play at once, Murray first calls upon his All-NBA big man, benefitting from a security bouncer-like screen that clears two gold-colored jerseys simultaneously. Accepting of the wide-open 3-point look that ensues, Murray hops into unguarded space before burying a game-clinching trifecta, affording the Denver Nuggets a permanent lead in the final six seconds. The pick-and-roll play — a literal carbon copy from minutes before — allowed Denver to survive a scrappy-as-ever effort from a Lakers group missing its All-Star pairing. Adding yet another bullet point to his late-game résumé, Murray collected a 26-point performance (on just 16 shots), alongside four rebounds, five assists, one block, and five 3-pointers on March 14, 2025.

Jamal Murray

Aaron Gordon for the win with the first-ever buzzer-beating dunk!

This NBA Top Shot Now Moment is of Aaron Gordon for the Denver Nuggets on the 26th April 2025 vs Los Angeles Clippers

This Legendary Moment is minted to 75 and was available for purchase on 26th April 2025					

Aaron Gordon

Seeing the first rematch of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals slipping through its palms, the Minnesota Timberwolves, reasonably, had reason to worry, having fallen on the wrong end of a late-game 9-0 run. As fate would have it, it was nothing compared to the not-soon-to-be-forgotten run that Christian Braun was about to speed into during a drive down the middle of the floor. Benefitting from an always-intriguing trio of circumstances including selfless ball movement, a high-IQ cut to the rim, and a head-to-head against a rim protector unafraid to contest any shot nearby, Braun prepares for liftoff from just outside the restricted area. Ascending with no plans of returning Earth anytime soon, Braun presents four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert with the rare type of play he couldn’t quite defend, overtaking him for a bench-igniting poster jam. The Timberwolves would ultimately rally for a comeback of their own, dealing Denver a three-point loss on November 1, 2024. Braun, even so, proved spectacular, turning in a team-high +13 plus-minus alongside 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one 3-pointer.

Christian Braun

In the ultimate twist of fate, Peyton Watson discovered that the recipe for creating a not-to-be-forgotten moment on November 6, 2024 involved something quite ironic: quickly removing the possession prior from his psyche. Eager to amend a pair of missed foul shots that would’ve cemented the Denver Nuggets’ two-score lead, Watson illustrates how a young player should respond, first by positioning himself near the paint as a potential help defender. Maintaining a view on the whereabouts of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — documented for a crowd-stunning, game-winner over Watson on Denver’s floor 11 months ago —  Watson exacts game-clinching revenge, rotating over to send the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar’s layup in the opposite direction. Having led the Nuggets in blocked shots (88) in 2023-24, Watson added to a further-growing highlight reel, earning Denver’s shiny, 3,000-stone Defensive Player of the Game chain for his efforts. Helping put an end to the Thunder’s undefeated campaign, Watson tallied 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal, three rejections, and a 3-pointer.

Peyton Watson

Appropriately nicknamed for a player with a thousand tricks and counters up his sleeve on the offensive end, Nikola Jokić found that on December 3, 2024, against an equally-savvy Stephen Curry, that he, perhaps, had fooled even himself. Captaining the Nuggets’ transition charge with Denver trailing by a bucket in the final minute-and-a-half, the three-time Most Valuable Player accepts a high-profile challenge against Curry, pinballing into the Golden State Warriors’ star along the high post. Having commanded the NBA’s full respect as a passer, Jokić, conceivably by accident, uses it advantageously, selling the thought of a pass smoothly enough to turn his defender's stance in a full 360-degree angle before recognizing his opportunity at an unbothered, game-tying midrange bucket. Again living to his status as a man of no statistical “off nights,” Jokić’s box score brilliance enabled 38 points (on 14-of-24 shooting), 10 rebounds, six assists, five steals, one block, and three 3-pointers. The Denver Nuggets, team-wise, followed closely behind, collecting a come-from-behind NBA Cup win against West Group C’s eventual first-place finisher.

Forget everything you know about conventional basketball when Nikola Jokić hits the floor. The mesmerizing Denver Nuggets center defies positional norms yet again on January 7, 2022, seamlessly carrying the rock the length of the floor against the Sacramento Kings, then hitting JaMychal Green in stride with a casual no-look, one-handed entry feed. Jokić finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the win. 

Even if you knew what Nikola Jokic was about to do next, good luck trying to stop it. The bruising Denver Nuggets center works against his defender with his back to the basket then pivots into a hook shot in a 50-point showing against the Sacramento Kings on February 6, 2021.

Look no further than at Nikola Jokić for a crash course in how the NBA has evolved in the modern era. With time fast expiring in the third overtime period of a match between the Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers, the do-everything big man draws the attention of two defenders 25 feet away from the basket.  Despite the aggressive double-team, the 280-pound point center finds a passing lane and air mails a skip pass directly into the hands of Aaron Gordon in the far corner just in time for a game-winning triple on January 19, 2022.

Nikola Jokic's playmaking abilities are so abundant that it’s easy to take them for granted. Don’t. The Denver Nuggets center uses his size to peer over his Houston Rockets defender out at the perimeter then hits a cutting Monte Morris with a dime on December 28, 2020. The feed gave Jokic his 18th assist in the ballgame, a new career high and the most by any center in the last 50 seasons.

When Aaron Gordon is filling the lane on the break, it’s a safe bet that something spectacular is about to occur. In transition against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets forward confidently calls for the lob, then leaps up for an incredible two-handed reverse flush that only he could make look so effortless. Gordon finished with 24 points, five rebounds and three assists in the April 1, 2022 matchup.

Record a triple-double, win the game — it’s become that simple for Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. The New Orleans Pelicans are powerless to slow down the two-time reigning MVP as he chases down a loose ball and weaves his way through three defenders with a dazzlingly-deceptive drive before finishing with a layup. Jokić made 10 of his 14 shots for 26 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists as the Nuggets improved to 16-0 on the season whenever he posts a triple-double, as Denver got by the Pelicans 122-113 on January 31, 2023.

At this point, seemingly every Nikola Jokić game ends with Video Game Numbers. The two-time Denver Nuggets MVP made the improbable look easy against the LA Clippers as he impacted the game in his usual variety of ways. Jokić scored on soft-touch layups and difficult post-ups with space created by his nimble footwork while mixing in a tough fadeaway with a Clippers defender draped all over him. The five-time All-Star — who averaged a career-best 9.8 assists per game in 2022-23 — also put his elite facilitating on display, whether it was threading the needle into tight windows, a no-look laser that set up a 3-pointer or a steal on the defensive end that led to a transition alley-oop. All told, Jokić posted 40 points on 14 of 21 shooting, 17 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals — his 23rd triple-double of the season and 14th in his past 19 games as the Nuggets secured a 134-124 win on February 26, 2023. 

In just his second game back from an injury that caused him to miss all but nine games a year ago, Michael Porter Jr. has opened the 2022-23 season looking very much like his old self. Drawing one of the game’s toughest defensive assignments in Steph Curry, Porter Jr. doesn’t flinch, staying in lockstep with the four-time champion and two-time MVP on his path to the basket, swatting Curry’s shot with authority. Porter Jr. brought it on the offensive end too, contributing 17 points and six rebounds in the Denver Nuggets’ 128-123 road win at the defending champion Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2022.

Michael Porter Jr.

Everybody knows Jamal Murray can win a game with a bucket — but how about a game-saving rejection for good measure? The explosive Denver Nuggets guard had just 16 blocks during the entire 2022-23 season, with none bigger than the one Murray landed on Klay Thompson during a frenetic final few seconds against the Golden State Warriors. Murray helped his squad close in on home court advantage and the Western Conference’s top seed with a solid performance of 26 points, three rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks in a thrilling 112-110 victory on April 2, 2023. 

Standing or moving, guarded or unguarded, have no fears: if you play for the Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokić will find you in a position to score. Helping orchestrate a possession that featured eight different passes —  including three of his own —  Jokić puts pressure on the Washington Wizards’ defense, drawing in two defenders before dropping a dish over the top to Aaron Gordon for a slam. One of the game’s most proficient passers, Jokić brought that and more in the 127-109 win, with 29 points on just 14 shots, adding 13 boards, eight assists, two steals and a block on March 16, 2022.

Aaron Gordon’s been training at high altitude his entire life. The Denver Nuggets trade acquisition cuts into the paint to connect with teammate Nikola Jokic, then leaps up and rotates mid-air for a reverse slam against the Orlando Magic on April 4, 2021.

Denver Nuggets high-flyer Aaron Gordon has become one of the NBA’s steadier wings, proving to be too quick for forwards and too strong for guards. Against the Portland Trail Blazers, Gordon puts both his speed and strength on display, using an explosive first step off of an entry pass to rise up for a gravity-defying slam. Gordon chipped in 11 points, three rebounds and three assists on November 23, 2021.

Nikola Jokić can find the open man even when he doesn’t have a firm grasp on the ball. The two-time reigning MVP continues to discover new ways to set up his teammates, as a bobble in the paint turns into Jokić slapping a pass into the corner where an open Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is waiting to bury a three-pointer. The Denver Nuggets superstar had another monster performance, putting up 31 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists and four blocks for the 80th triple-double of his career in his team’s 115-110 victory over the Utah Jazz on December 10, 2022.

The Denver Nuggets are a well-oiled machine thanks in no small part to the chemistry between Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Murray bides time with the rock out at the three-point line before eyeing up a cutting Jokic and rewarding him with a pinpoint behind-the-back entry pass in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 12, 2021.

Hoops fans were warned to expect the unexpected from Facundo Campazzo this season. The Denver Nuggets rookie penetrates against the Portland Trail Blazers, then curls a behind-the-back pass around his opponent, right to teammate Zeke Nnaji in the corner for a three on February 23, 2021.

Facundo Campazzo

When Jamal Murray sees a gap, he takes it. The Denver Nuggets guard seizes on an opportunity against the Phoenix Suns, drives through the key then rises up to cram it on January 22, 2021. He dropped 18 points and nine dimes in the win.

It appears that Jamal Murray’s knee has healed just fine. After missing the entire 2021-22 season, Murray updates his recovery status against the Oklahoma City Thunder, driving with determination into the lane before taking flight and sticking a highlight-reel one-handed reverse slam sandwiched in between two defenders. Murray’s aerial attack was an encouraging development for the Denver Nuggets, who received 24 points, five rebounds, two assists and four three-pointers from their high-scoring guard in a 122-110 Nuggets win on November 3, 2022.

Back in action for the first time since winning the 2023 NBA championship, Nikola Jokić picked up right where he left off. As comfortable dominating in the paint as ever, Jokić tips an entry pass to himself, gathers possession then finishes with an untouchable push shot. Jokić finished the opening night rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals with a 29-point, 13-rebound, 11-assist triple double. Jokić and the Nuggets received their rings and raised their banner prior to the October 24, 2023 contest.

What a storybook season it was for two-time Denver Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokić. The Joker was the driving force behind Denver’s first championship, setting career-highs in field-goal percentage and assists per game while averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists across 69 games. His 29 regular season triple-doubles were 15 more than anyone else, and he posted 10 more in 20 playoff games where he again nearly averaged a triple-double. He now has 105 career regular season triple-doubles and another 16 in the postseason, already ranking him in the top-six all-time in both categories. The 2022-23 season marked Jokić’s fifth straight year on an All-NBA team — two on the Second Team and three on the First. While he fell just short of a third straight MVP award — finishing runner-up to Joel Embiid — Jokić made up for it by being named MVP of both the Western Conference and NBA Finals. During the regular season Jokić became the first player since 1968 to post a 35-point, 25-rebound, 10-assist game, as well as the third in NBA history to record a 40-15-15 game. In his eighth season, Jokić passed Alex English as Denver’s franchise leader in assists and also became the first player in NBA history to lead a postseason in total points, rebounds and assists. 

There are few better ways to earn the favor of new teammates than by knocking down open threes when called upon. Julian Strawther got the memo. Biding his time beyond the arc in his second NBA contest, Strawther waits for a swing pass and connects on a triple. Strawther finished with eight total points in a Denver Nuggets win on October 29, 2023.

Julian Strawther

Jeff Green turned the tables on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Usually it’s the Greek Freak putting others on a poster, but Green flipped the script when he got a running start behind the 3-point line and landed a gravity-defying left-handed dunk over the two-time MVP. Green brought the energy of a rookie against the Milwaukee Bucks, as the 36-year-old showcased his still undeniable hops to the tune of seven points and two rebounds off the bench in the Denver Nuggets’ 129-106 victory on March 25, 2023.

Jeff Green

If you’re going to go at a generationally dominant rim protector, you better be ready to commit to the play. Denver Nuggets Michael Porter Jr. shows no fear driving for a dunk against the Utah Jazz, elevating around Rudy Gobert for a tough two-handed slam on May 7, 2021.

Michael Porter Jr. stayed ready and finished what his teammates started. When Jamal Murray had to scramble deep into the backcourt to recover a loose ball and only had time to fire a halfcourt heave, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hustled to collect the offensive board and got the ball back in Murray’s hands. Instead of firing again, Murray slung a pass to the wing where Porter Jr. was waiting to fire one of his four made 3-pointers. Porter Jr. shot 12 of 18 for 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Denver Nuggets’ 134-124 overtime victory over the LA Clippers on February 26, 2023 to secure a four-game regular season sweep. 

Just what the league needed: another elite finisher for Nikola Jokic to target. Mid-season Denver Nuggets trade acquisition Aaron Gordon heads back door in a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, catches a well-placed entry pass from his new teammate, then leaps up from under the rim for a two-handed slam on March 28, 2021.

If Michael Porter Jr. gets an open lane to the rim, you might as well start heading the other way. The Denver Nuggets forward cuts straight to the bucket knowing Nikola Jokic will find him with a dime, then unleashes a massive hammer on the Washington Wizards in a February 25, 2021 matchup.

It takes both a special type of confidence and athleticism to lift off for a poster jam just inside of the free throw line. Unfortunately for the Brooklyn Nets defense, Christian Braun checked both boxes. Coming out of a crowd with a loose ball, Braun puts his mind to a coast-to-coast finish, dribbling the length of the floor before levitating through the air for an awe-inspiring one-handed contact slam. Braun put on a show in the Denver Nuggets’ win on December 14, 2023, supplying the second unit with 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks.

For every contender with their eyes adjusted to the goal of raising the NBA championship, there remains one ominous, familiar sight that they must hope to avoid: No. 27 of the Denver Nuggets with the ball in his hands and the game on the line. One cold-blooded bucket away from putting both a 2-0 lead in his team’s future and a slow offensive start into the distant past, Jamal Murray gets started on a legendary, crowd-stirring moment, locating vacated space in isolation against Anthony Davis. First testing the balance of the Los Angeles Lakers star with a quick hesitation, Murray takes his chance, elevating through the air for an off-balanced, 15-foot fallaway jumper that calmly sinks through the net. Threatening to outdo himself with another series-clinching game-winner just one week later, Murray offered a fascinating reminder of his status as one of the league’s premier talents in the win on April 22, 2024. Heroic over the game’s final stretch, Murray ignited for 20 points —  including 14 in the fourth — supporting it with three rebounds, five assists, and a pair of blocks.

If recent meetings between the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks have taught anything, it’s that one can expect a postseason-like atmosphere, big-time shots from all-world bucket-getters, and eventually, game-winning one-handed floaters from the floor’s right side. Seemingly the next “contestant” during November 10, 2024’s back-and-forth duel that offered every player the spotlight, Michael Porter Jr., with Denver locked in a 120-120 tie in the final 10 seconds, receives a hot potato with pressure at its boiling point. Proactive in getting a step on Kyrie Irving — last season’s hero through a floater of his own — Porter Jr. squeezes through the lane, balancing himself just enough to elevate into a one-handed bucket, ultimately sealing the game. Showcasing his feel for the must-have moment, Porter Jr.’s shot, his only attempt of the final quarter, curtained a showcase that saw 22 lead changes and 15 ties. In perfect complement to his three-time Most Valuable Player-winning teammate, the six-year forward tossed in 17 points (on 6-of-11 shooting), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, two blocks, and two 3-pointers.

From the moment that Nikola Jokić steps onto the hardwood, two things immediately enter the realm of possibility: a never-before-seen statline and a high-IQ play to match. In taking the best that the testy Toronto Raptors had to offer, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player presented a little bit of both, shuffling the deck as only “The Joker” can, with nifty dimes, effortless scoring at all three levels, and an impenetrable defensive approach along the way. Revered for his unselfish play, the Denver Nuggets superstar’s box score was equally charitable, as Jokić turned in 35 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, six steals, and two blocks, making him NBA history’s first-ever player to construct such a box score. Jokić’s comprehensive effort helped the Nuggets offset a 22-point deficit on the way to one of the season’s most thrilling wins on March 11, 2024.

Normally one to save his superhuman athleticism for above the rim, Aaron Gordon’s aerial prowess is just as effective below it. Back-cutting to collect a Nikola Jokic pass along the baseline, Gordon leaps from outside the restricted area, twists to avoid the outstretched arm of a help-side defender and finishes on the far side of the hoop with a reverse layup. Gordon racked up 18 points and eight rebounds in the Denver Nuggets’ victory on November 3, 2023.

Amidst the dozens of lessons that they’ve taught opponents during their title defense season, Jamal Murray showed the Sacramento Kings that the Denver Nuggets’ elite court vision doesn’t merely apply to passing. Equal parts unspoken and unstoppable in the two-man game with his superstar teammate, Murray cuts right through an unoccupied seam down the middle of the floor, locating the perfectly-thrown ball before selling the shot effectively enough to force a defender to nearly jump over his head. Limited in his perception of the rim, the crafty combo guard lofts an underhand, scoop shot over his shoulders, supplying it with just enough English for an astounding and-one finish. On a night that included a 13 of 15 finish from the field, Murray made difficult shots a formality, erupting for 32 points, three rebounds, six assists, one steal, and five 3-pointers, catapulting the Nuggets to victory on February 28, 2024.

If the possession begins with the two-man game between Jamal Murray and his All-Star big man, the only question left to ask is how many points the defense is about to surrender. Trying and succeeding in his plan to send the Indiana Pacers’ defense an early message, Murray puts that yin-yang cohesion to use, working a dribble handoff, pick-and-roll rejection, and then a quick-witted crossover to clear his alley for an around-the-rim reverse layup. In double-figures before you could even say “double-figures,” the Denver Nuggets star blitzed the opposition with a 12-point first quarter, a precursor of what was ultimately to come. The brilliant combo guard would finish with 31 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three 3-pointers, fueling an exciting win on January 23, 2024.

With fresh legs and a motivated spirit in their first game out of the All-Star break, the Denver Nuggets certainly weren’t wasteful in allowing Christian Braun to put his open-floor gifts on display. Following in his teammates’ footsteps with one aggressive rim attack after another, Braun packages his teammate’s emphatic block on one end with an equally-electrifying play on the other, corralling an outlet pass before gliding through the paint with a hanging, two-handed and-one finish to the delight of the home crowd. Braun’s athleticism proved constant in a game in which Denver pummeled the Washington Wizards with 88 points in the paint — the most by any team throughout the 2023-24 NBA season — on their way to victory on February 22, 2024. Determined to fly whenever possible, the talented guard contributed 12 points, a career-high 10 rebounds, two steals, and one 3-pointer to the cause.

A little patience goes a long way when exposing holes in a defense. After biding his time in the corner while Denver Nuggets teammates move the ball around the perimeter, Peyton Watson catches the rock, draws the attention of the defense and drives hard along the baseline for a reverse slam on the far side of the rim. The second-year Watson racked up a career-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the October 29, 2023 win.

In hitting the ground running during the post-All-Star break swing, Michael Porter Jr. has ensured that there’s only been one thing higher than his unblockable shot release: the level he’s raised his play to. Unfamiliar with the term “missed shot” during one of his career’s most staggeringly-accurate shooting exhibits, the supremely-confident sniper enters attack mode, feigning a screen with a brush just subtle enough to incite chaos before elevating into a 3-pointer with limited airspace, ironically supplying the Denver Nuggets with much-needed breathing room. Playing spoiler on a night headlined by his opponent’s historic all-time scoring milestone, Porter Jr. found time to both carve out a victory and grasp a share of history himself. Flawless in accuracy, the reigning NBA champion delivered 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block, and five 3-pointers on March 2. 2024. In the process, he became the Association’s first-ever player to attempt 10+ shots from the field and at least five 3-pointers while shooting a perfect 100 percent from both.

In a lesson the Denver Nuggets have learned on numerous occasions throughout 2024-25 half the battle doesn’t begin until warm-ups are thrown off, and the Most Valuable Player takes a seat along the bench for a brief rest. Requiring all of 16 seconds to confirm that Mile High’s second unit was ready for November 2, 2024’s challenge, Hunter Tyson, through trademark energy, turns a teammate’s deflection into a collection, capturing a steal with his eyes immediately set in transition. With a fastbreak number’s advantage dependent on the quickness of his move, Tyson calls his own number, outhanging Johnny Juzang’s defensive reach for a coast-to-coast double-clutch finish. It was that kind of night for Tyson and the Nuggets’ backups, as they tallied 48 bench points — a season-best, even months later — during a 26-point rout of the Utah Jazz. For his efforts, the 2023 second-rounder captured the spotlight through a seven-point, four-rebound, four-assist showing in 25 minutes.

Hunter Tyson

Creating memories and rarely-seen statlines for six different franchises often affords Russell Westbrook opportunities at head-to-head showdowns against his former teams. On March 14, 2025, the end-of-game recipe, ironically, called for something quite poetic: a stealing of the Los Angeles Lakers’ thunder. One possession shy of surviving a “March Madness”-style scare against Los Angeles’ shorthanded lineup, the former Most Valuable Player puts a 17-year veteran’s intuition on exhibit, unlatching from his original assignment for a free safety-like inbounds steal. Left with only one thing to do, Westbrook — already supercharged by the energy of the Mile High crowd — leaves victory signed and sealed through a transition flush. Despite entering as 12.5-point favorites, Denver’s closely-contested victory became a trademark example of what can happen when veteran teams battle up-and-coming ones eager to make their mark. Impactful throughout, Westbrook finished with 17 points (on 7-of-16 shooting), six rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers.

Russell Westbrook

Aaron Gordon for the win with the first-ever buzzer-beating dunk!

This NBA Top Shot Now Moment is of Aaron Gordon for the Denver Nuggets on the 26th April 2025 vs Los Angeles Clippers

This Common Moment is minted to 2025 and was available for purchase on 26th April 2025					

For 99 percent of the NBA’s player pool, opposing defenses might consider it a “job well done” if a lockdown defensive stand forces a shot attempt with only a few milliseconds remaining on the 24-second play clock. During Game Five’s crunchtime stretch on May 13, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder, unfortunately, found themselves eye-to-eye with a superstar with VIP credentials to that “one percent club.” Author of more than a few improbable, “only-Jokić”-type shots on the postseason scene, the Denver Nuggets’ megastar stumbles into another, first pivoting back towards the floor’s middle with Chet Holmgren tightly attached. Left with no choice but to unleash a 27-foot “Sombor Shuffle”-type shot, Jokić connects, prompting a stunned groan from the Paycom Center crowd.  Most Valuable Players rise to the occasion in all-important games, and even in a loss, Jokić did just that, exploding for 44 points (on 17-of-25 shooting), 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and five 3-pointers. It marked just NBA history’s second-ever instance of a player reaching those points-rebounds-assists-triples thresholds in a playoff environment.

Aaron Gordon for the win with the first-ever buzzer-beating dunk!

This NBA Top Shot Now Moment is of Aaron Gordon for the Denver Nuggets on the 26th April 2025 vs Los Angeles Clippers
This Rare Moment is minted to 299 and was available for purchase on 26th April 2025					

16-point second-half comebacks against the NBA’s No. 1 regular-season team often requires execution, energy, and an “unsung hero” or two. During a frenetic charge that helped deal the Oklahoma City Thunder its first loss on November 6, 2024, the Denver Nuggets enjoyed the comforts of seeing Julian Strawther check all three boxes. Akin to a beloved wrestler racing down the ramp to even the playing field of an unfair in-ring showdown, Strawther strides the floor purposefully, turning the Nuggets’ two-on-three transition tango into something more balanced. The great equalizer by possession’s end, Strawther reaps the ultimate reward, following his teammate’s misfired layup with a powerful putback return, encouraging both a six-point lead and the fiery support of 19,522 in attendance. Ironically off-target from deep during a night in which 3-point accuracy spurred Denver’s come-from-behind triumph, the gifted sophomore's versatile energy offset any shortcomings, as evidenced through a nine-point, five-rebound, six-assist, one-triple showing.

If the Atlanta Hawks had any “new year, new me” aspirations during 2025’s first day of the calendar year, they were certainly in for a rude awakening against Peyton Watson’s energy. Tightening the Denver Nuggets’ defensive clamps, even with the Mile High nursing a 23-point second half lead, Watson maintains discipline, mirroring DeAndre Hunter’s quick steps before encouraging a misfire on a 16-footer. Eager for something extra during his transition floor race, Watson finds his two-way hustle rewarded with an alley-oop lob, turning opportunities into a reverse jam for the highlight reels. En fuego and in-sync on both ends of the floor, Denver pieced together a 139-point outburst, kicking the year off correctly with a home victory. Perfectly comfortable in the fast-paced setting between two up-and-down offenses, Watson parlayed his chances into 11 points, one assist, two steals, one block, and a 3-pointer, alongside four shot contests and a game-high four deflections on January 1, 2025.

From the literal first time they stepped onto Denver’s hardwood together in late-March 2021, Nikola Jokić and his highflying frontcourt partner — often from high posts and “dunker’s spots” — have made the complexities of big-to-big passing appear easy. Should a “greatest hits” ever be created among the two’s collection, January 17, 2025’s example likely settles somewhere along the top. Pressured, but unphased as usual, with a rainbow-like outlet pass arriving his way, a pair of Miami Heat defenders approaching, and the out-of-bounds line giving a silent warning, Jokić overcomes all through trademark on-court omniscience. Already successful in capturing an over-the-head catch, Jokić multiplies his masterful sequence through an over-the-dome pass, perfectly hitting his running mate in stride for a highlight jam. Those types of only-the-Joker plays left even Miami’s road crowd in audible admiration, as Jokić, keying Denver’s brilliant 35-assist, six-turnover night, guided victory. Somewhere between mesmerizing and modest by his own box score benchmarks, the Denver Nuggets’ megastar secured a 24-point triple-double (on just 12 shots), alongside 12 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, and a 3-pointer.

No amount of preparation could allow Denver to completely disregard the Most Valuable Player-winning, 6-foot-11 hole in its lineup, but with nearly 20 shot attempts available, Michael Porter Jr.’s rise to the occasion appeared inevitable. As fate would ultimately have it, such a statement became the worst possible news for Kristaps Porzingis. Uninterested in hearing any stories about the Boston Celtics’ recently-returning center working back to full strength, Porter prepares to test his muscle, first by using the threat of his silky-smooth shot to unlock a driving lane. With two different white jerseys officially in his rearview, Porter elevates with eyes alight, powering through Boston’s 7-foot-3 rim protector for a contact facial. 2024’s champion commanded the last laugh over 2023’s victor, with Boston using a second-half push to secure a win; the Denver Nuggets’ swingman remained productive nevertheless, collecting 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two 3-pointers on January 7, 2025.

Having welcomed everything from Most Valuable Player winners, one-dribble pull-up masters, and transcendent gamechangers into its franchise’s 58-year record books, the Denver Nuggets, needlessly said, understand the artful importance of bucket-getting in ways few others do. Somewhere in the middle of every superlative previously mentioned, Jamal Murray decided that during a critical Game Five, one record would belong solely to himself: the most 40-point postseason games in organization history. Leaving behind 17 different field goals by April 29, 2025’s conclusion, Murray hustles into one distinctive example, quickly turning James Harden’s rejected floater into a fruitful breakaway in transition. Routinely checking his rearview for Kawhi Leonard’s shadow-like presence, Murray’s speed eventually prevails, encouraging a crowd-inspiring throwdown that balloons Denver’s late-game lead further. In full-on “Playoff Murray” mode, the Nuggets’ electrifying star overwhelmed the L.A. Clippers for a 43-point display — the sixth-different playoff 40-piece of his career — on eye-opening efficiency (17-of-26), joined by a five-rebound, seven-assist, three-steal, one-block, eight-triple complement.

Urged to raise his play by a nationally-televised panel of Hall of Famers before January 14, 2025’s matchup, Jamal Murray attacked the Dallas Mavericks as if the message were received, and he had one to send for himself. In attack mode from the game’s opening tip, Murray’s sizzling start coincided perfectly with a 26-point halftime lead, momentum that allowed the Denver Nuggets to play freely and cruise to a crowd-silencing 19-point road win. Already attempting “heat check”-type shots by the first quarter’s midway point, Murray’s performance could only be described as “playoff-esque,” as he overwhelmed Dallas with crafty, accurate lasers from all three floor levels. Proving his head coach’s declaration correct about the arrival of his offensive heatwaves during the season’s later months, Murray concluded the night with 45 points (on a scorching-hot 18-of-26 shooting), two rebounds, six assists, two steals, and five 3-pointers. In something of a box score anomaly, Murray’s video game-like numbers made him NBA history’s first to record 45 points, with no other player — teammate or opponent — not scoring 15 or more.

Statsheet stuffers and triple-double talliers could be found at every turn of the neck, as Wild West foes went play-for-play during December 16, 2024’s shootout. One could be rest assured, though, that few would handle the job as brilliantly as No. 15 of the Denver Nuggets could. Incorporating a sprinkle of defensive skill into this sequence, Nikola Jokić first sends out invitations to a “block party,” swatting away Malik Monk’s layup attempt before winning a crowded rebound battle. On to the next task before the Sacramento Kings can react, Jokić unleashes a skip-ahead pass, hitting a down-the-floor teammate for a Eurostep finish that pushes Denver’s lead to a dozen. Ready for the Kings’ inevitable comeback charge a few quarters later, Jokić blended clutch plays of every type into his highlight reel, as the Nuggets survived seven lead changes over the final minute-and-change for a victory. Big time in his box score contributions, as always, Jokić boarded Denver’s flight with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, one block, and a 3-pointer, securing his season’s 10th triple-double.

Consider the list of players to compile at least 100 “stocks” —  steals plus blocks — and at first glance, Defensive Player of the Year candidates and high-minute starters are likely to immediately stand out. On January 19, 2025, Cole Anthony and the overly-ambitious Orlando Magic got a memorable glimpse of one of the rare players in that bunch to accumulate his top-of-the-league numbers as a reserve. Out, perhaps, to avenge the loss the Denver Nuggets took during the midcourt jump ball, Watson challenges the former Slam Dunk Contest participant to a battle of vertical jumps, winning the battle by emphatically sending Anthony’s jam away. Something of a master in help-side rejections, Watson’s two-way impact was vital in the interconference win. The physical denial would be Watson’s final play in this game, but the 12-minute appearance allowed for an impressive four-point, two-rebound, one-assist, three-block finish.

If shot attempts fall efficiently enough for the Denver Nuggets’ offense to produce a 146-point night, highlight watchers can be guaranteed that at some point, Jamal Murray sprinkled in a must-see sequence or five along the way. Beginning his eyebrow-raiser in the most “of course” way possible — a top-of-the-arc connection alongside his all-world center — Murray springs himself, somehow, into an even more chaotic situation with Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan glued to his paint drive. Creative enough to create the picture-perfect finish anyways, Murray pirouettes into a 360-degree spin through the two, rainbowing in the and-one layup that brings his sidelined teammates to their feet. Only technical fouls would derail Murray’s progress on this night, as a few untimely whistles forced the Nuggets’ star to the locker room in the early fourth. Extraordinary in limited time, though, Murray overpowered the Portland Trail Blazers’ defense for a 17-point performance (on just 10 shot attempts), alongside two rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one 3-pointer, and a +22 plus-minus.

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$364 Moment

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Chase the

$364 Moment

hidden in these packs