Watch: Aaron Gordon's game-winner stuns Thunder in Game 1

Gordon hit his game-winner with four seconds left, after Chet Holmgren missed a pair of free throws with his Thunder up by a point. After some confusion about the offensive rebound, Russell Westbrook drove and drew the defense, then found Gordon behind the arc for a big shot that silenced the Oklahoma City crowd.

It was redemption for Gordon, who had a go-ahead shot in the lane blocked by Jalen Williams with 20 seconds to go.

But when the Thunder decided to immediately foul to prevent three-point attempts, Jokic and Gordon both made their free throws to put the Nuggets in position to win. Gordon had 22 points and 14 rebounds, which looks impressive except compared to Jokic's 42 points, 22 rebounds and six assists.

It's the second time in eight playoff games that Gordon has won the game in the final seconds. Game 1 showed off Gordon's huge improvement as a three-point shooter. When he beat the Los Angeles Clippers, he did it with his most famous skill: Dunking.

The Thunder are a great team, winning 68 games this season. But the Nuggets are just two years past an NBA title. Monday, they and Gordon displayed the tenacity and the heart that made them champions.