Denver Nuggets key forward Aaron Gordon has sustained a Grade 2 injury to his right hamstring and is scheduled for a follow-up evaluation in four to six weeks, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. The injury happened in the opening quarter of Denver’s win over the Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup on Friday. Gordon, 30, missed the following game against the Sacramento Kings as he has been managing issues in both hamstrings this season. Notably, last postseason, he played through a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This season, Gordon has been performing at an impressive level, averaging a career-best 18.8 points per game and shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc, placing him among the NBA’s top 20 shooters this season. His injury surfaces shortly after teammate Christian Braun also went down with a left ankle sprain, with the Nuggets planning to reassess Braun in six weeks. These injuries have left Denver’s wing position thin, forcing players like Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson into starting roles alongside stars Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Cameron Johnson. Bench players Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Hunter Tyson have had increased playing time to help cover the gaps.
Denver currently holds a 12-4 record, ranking second in the Western Conference behind Oklahoma City, which boasts a 16-1 record.
Fan Take: Aaron Gordon’s injury is a significant setback for the Nuggets, potentially impacting their championship aspirations this season. For basketball fans, it’s a reminder of how injuries can rapidly alter team dynamics and playoff potentials, underscoring the importance of depth and resilience in the sport.
