Aaron Gordon’s Hamstring Injury Threatens to Shake Up Nuggets’ High-Stakes Game 7 Showdown

Aaron Gordon has been the heart and soul of Denver’s playoff run — a real clutch performer whose contributions have been absolutely vital to getting the Nuggets to the brink of a decisive Game 7 in Oklahoma City. But here’s the gut-punch: it looks like Gordon will likely sit out that all-important clash after suffering a strained hamstring—a nightmare scenario for Denver fans everywhere. This injury came to light after he visibly slowed down late in the Nuggets’ Game 6 victory on Thursday, even hobbling off before the final buzzer. Despite Aaron’s optimistic postgame outlook, coach David Adelman’s worries are well-founded. Hamstring strains are notoriously tricky—remember how long it sidelined Stephen Curry? Usually around ten days on the shelf. Now, Gordon hasn’t just put up numbers—averaging 16.8 points and over 7 rebounds—but he’s also delivered clutch shots that have swung momentum, like those unforgettable buckets against the Clippers and Thunder. Adelman’s words earlier this postseason—calling Gordon a genuine “championship piece”—ring truer than ever now. The Nuggets are facing Sunday without one of their fiercest warriors. It’s the kind of adversity that tests a team’s mettle—and I, for one, can’t wait to see how Denver rises to the occasion. LEARN MORE

That’s the kind of player the Nuggets need to step up on Sunday, but Denver will have to go without him.
Gordon appeared to strain his hamstring in the final minutes of the Nuggets’ Game 6 win on Thursday, rubbing it and moving slowly on the court, then he checked himself out of the game in the final minute. After the game Gordon said he would be okay, however, coach David Adelman was concerned about his status. As has been discussed with Stephen Curry and his hamstring strain, that is an injury that usually takes around 10 days to heal. And this clutch shot against Oklahoma City in Game 1.Gordon has averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game while playing clutch defense in these playoffs. More than that, he hit this clutch shot against the Clippers.

“There’s certain people in our league I would define as championship pieces, I think we say that too much, he is one those people, he is a definition of that and he always has been since he got to us,” Adelman said of Gordon earlier this postseason.The strain diagnosis was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and has since been confirmed by multiple reports. Aaron Gordon, who has been clutch for the Nuggets throughout these playoffs and is a key reason there is a Game 7 for Denver on Sunday in Oklahoma City, will very likely miss that game with a strained hamstring.