Aaron Gordon joined an exclusive basketball club on Thursday (23 October) night, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a regular-season opener.
The Denver Nuggets forward was near flawless in his performance against the Golden State Warriors, finishing with a career-high 50 points on 17-of-21 shooting, including 10-of-11 from three-point range. His efficiency made it the most accurate 50-point night in league history by true shooting percentage. Gordon made eight consecutive three-pointers, forcing Warriors fans to watch in stunned disbelief.
Despite his efforts, Steph Curry decided the outcome, scoring 40 points to lead Golden State to a 137-131 win.
Gordon’s performance, however, was the talk of the night.
And yet, he did not want to take the game ball home with him. “I don’t want the game ball, take an L home with me,” he told reporters afterwards. For Denver, the loss stung, but Gordon’s display hinted at a new offensive dimension.
