Game 1 between the Nuggets and Clippers had everything—tension, drama, and a bizarre twist no one saw coming. Both Denver and L.A. slugged it out before the Nuggets rallied for a 112–110 OT win. And Jokic? Well, he was doing classic, Jokic stuff. He was unstoppable, achieving 29 points and almost a triple-double record!  But it wasn’t just the game that had fans buzzing: it was a strange fourth-quarter moment that stole the spotlight in the final seconds.

With 33 seconds left, chaos hit the courtside. Jokic dove in to grab the ball after a turnover by Kawhi Leonard. But instead of a clean grab, he wound up in a full‑blown tug‑of‑war with assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy at courtside. Yes, the 63-year-old coach had a death grip on the ball. Nikola Jokic pulled, Van Gundy held firm, and for a moment, it looked like a wrestling match. The reaction? The arena was left stunned. Was this even legal?

That wild moment ended up on Run It Back, where Beadle kicked off the segment laughing, calling Jokic “spicy” for the stunt. “He and Jeff Van Gundy having a little tug of war,” she said. Chandler couldn’t believe Nikola Jokic struggled, saying, “Is this not a delayed game?” But Lou fired back with a smirk, calling it classic “old man strength.” The show turned the courtside chaos into comedy gold, dissecting every second like a game film.

Boogie jumped in too, impressed by Van Gundy’s calm. “Facial expression doesn’t change,” Lou joked. Beadle teased, “He might be a serial killer.” Chandler was still convinced Jokic was faking it. “There’s no way he can’t rip the ball from Van Gundy’s hands.” They even joked about how it became a tug-of-war between two vs. four people. But Boogie didn’t think just this was enough excuse for Jokic, to which Lou stated, “Hey man, get your pushups in.” It was sports comedy at its finest.

This wasn’t Van Gundy’s first “old man strength” moment—fans instantly recalled his 1998 Knicks–Heat playoff fracas, when he grabbed Alonzo Mourning’s leg mid‑fight.

No one really knows if Jokic was trying to stall or was just stunned by Van Gundy’s grip. But one thing’s clear: the moment became legendary. The moment was certainly interesting to watch.

Game 2: Nuggets hope to stay hot while Clippers aim to even the score

As Game 2 approaches, the tension in Denver is rising fast. The Nuggets barely escaped with just a 2-point win in Game 1, and now the Clippers are looking for payback. Both teams know what’s at stake tonight at Ball Arena. The energy is high, and the pressure? Even higher.

Aaron Gordon, who dropped 25 points in Game 1, showed why he’s become such a key piece for Denver. But fans held their breath after seeing him on the injury report. He’s managing a right calf issue but is listed as probable for tonight. Denver needs his presence, especially since he played 46 minutes alongside Jokic and still delivered clutch buckets in overtime. Gordon’s health could tilt the balance again.

Meanwhile, the Clippers received a sigh of relief: Kawhi Leonard is not on the injury list. That means LA will have their star forward ready to go. Leonard had 22 points last game, but the Clippers will need more from him if they hope to tie the series. Notably, Seth Lundy is ruled out of the game due to an ankle injury, but with LA ranking top seven in offense and defense since the trade deadline, this team isn’t going to fade quietly. Expect fireworks.

The Nuggets have one more home game before the series shifts to the Intuit Dome. A win tonight gives them a 2-0 cushion and serious breathing room. But if the Clippers respond with the urgency they showed during their red-hot regular-season finish, things could change fast. This battle is far from over.

Game 2 kicks off at 8 p.m. MT, and it feels like the real war is just beginning. Ready for round two? So are they.