The Denver Nuggets managed to avoid elimination on Thursday by winning Game 6 of their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 119-107 victory. However, their chances in the upcoming Game 7 may have suffered a significant setback.
With less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City`s Chet Holmgren stripped the ball from Denver`s Aaron Gordon. As Gordon chased the loose ball, Alex Caruso dived to secure possession. Gordon attempted to kick the pass away, but immediately afterwards, he grabbed his hamstring, appearing to be in considerable pain.
Despite the apparent discomfort, Gordon remained in the game for approximately 35 more seconds before heading to the bench with 1:10 remaining. He did return briefly before being substituted out again to close the game.
Following the game, Nuggets interim coach David Adelman was asked about his level of concern for Gordon`s condition heading into Sunday`s decisive Game 7.
“At this point I have no idea. It would be high, obviously,” Adelman stated. He underscored Gordon`s value to the team, adding, “Aaron is one of our guys… he`s a reason we`ve won games and won series and have a banner hanging up in there.”
Adelman noted that it was too early to determine the full extent of Gordon`s injury but acknowledged that having two full days off before returning to play would be very beneficial. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Gordon`s hamstring was not wrapped or iced when the locker room was accessible to the media after the game.
Adelman further elaborated on the importance of the short break: “It`s really nice to have two days for all the guys to have treatment and all of those things… Wow, this has been a marathon. The guys look happier that they have [Friday] off than that they`re going to a Game 7… It`s going to be really nice. It`s nice to have two days to get guys right going into a Sunday matinee.” He reiterated the team`s worry, saying, “Concern for Aaron is so high. He`s played through a lot through this whole season, so we`ll see where he`s at.”
Gordon has been exceptionally important to the Nuggets during this postseason run, especially with fellow starting forward Michael Porter Jr. dealing with a shoulder injury. Before Game 6, Gordon was averaging nearly 18 points per game and was arguably the team`s top defender.
Moreover, he has delivered some of the most pivotal shots of the playoffs for Denver, including a game-winning putback dunk at the buzzer in Game 4 against the Clippers, the go-ahead three-pointer to win Game 1 against Oklahoma City, and a game-tying three-pointer in Game 3 versus the Thunder that sent the game into overtime, which Denver went on to win.
If Gordon is hampered by the injury or sidelined entirely, the Nuggets will need to find ways to replace approximately 40 minutes of court time and production from a bench unit that has struggled considerably throughout the season. While Julian Strawther had a notable performance in Game 6 with 15 points, and Peyton Watson can offer some similar defensive presence and cutting ability, the roster`s depth is notably limited. Losing Gordon would be a significant blow for Denver, leaving them hopeful that the injury is not as severe as it initially appeared.
Jasper Hawthorne