UPDATE: Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks, sources tell ESPN. This injury, sustained during the Nuggets’ road victory against the Houston Rockets on Friday, was confirmed after an MRI on Saturday revealed its severity.
Gordon’s absence is a significant blow to the Nuggets, marking the second starter now out for an extended period. Christian Braun is already expected to miss at least six weeks due to an ankle sprain he suffered on November 12. This situation puts immense pressure on Denver’s depth as they navigate a challenging schedule.
Earlier this season, Gordon made headlines by scoring a career-high 50 points in the opening game against the Golden State Warriors, becoming just the sixth player in NBA history to achieve such a feat on opening night. He is currently enjoying a career year, averaging 18.8 points per game while shooting an impressive 44.4% from three-point range.
The Nuggets, now holding a record of 12-4 and sitting second in the Western Conference behind the Oklahoma City Thunder (16-1), will need to rely heavily on their offseason acquisitions during Gordon’s recovery. With Gordon managing previous bilateral hamstring issues and having played through a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in last season’s playoffs, the team will look to Peyton Watson to step up at forward. Additional support will come from new additions Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas.
As the Nuggets prepare for their upcoming games, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how this injury impacts their performance. With key players sidelined, the urgency for the remaining roster to step up has never been higher. Stay tuned for more updates on Gordon’s recovery and the Nuggets’ upcoming matchups in the coming weeks.
