The Denver Nuggets forced a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 119-107 victory on Thursday night, but the team now faces anxiety about Aaron Gordon‘s health after he suffered a hamstring injury late in the fourth quarter.
Gordon appeared to hurt his left hamstring with less than two minutes remaining in Game 6. The forward was seen grabbing at his hamstring and limping after chasing a loose ball in a play involving Thunder’s Alex Caruso. Despite staying in the game briefly, Gordon was eventually substituted out as the Nuggets closed the victory.
After the game, Gordon told reporters, “I feel ok. We’ll see. I’m going to start the recovery process now and make sure I’m getting ready for Game 7.”
The injury happened at a critical time for Denver. Gordon has been essential to the Nuggets’ playoff run, averaging 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds on 49.4% shooting from the field. Beyond the statistics, Gordon has delivered in clutch moments, hitting game-changing shots throughout the playoffs.
Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman expressed serious concern about Gordon’s condition. “At this point I have no idea. It would be high, obviously,” Adelman said when asked about his level of concern regarding Gordon’s hamstring. “Aaron is one of our guys that we… he’s a reason we’ve won games and won series and have a banner hanging up in there.”
Adelman added that the two-day break before Game 7 comes at a perfect time. “It’s really nice to have two days for all the guys to have treatment and all of those things. I haven’t gotten a clear answer. He’ll get checked out,” Adelman said. “But I mean this, having two days off — wow this has been a marathon. The guys in there look happier that they have Friday off than that they’re going to a Game 7.”
The injury comes at an especially bad time for the defending champions. Gordon has made several game-changing plays during this playoff run, including a buzzer-beating putback dunk in Game 4 against the Clippers, a game-winning three-pointer in Game 1 against Oklahoma City, and a game-tying three-pointer in Game 3 against the Thunder that sent that game to overtime.
Gordon’s hamstring issues are not new. He has dealt with hamstring problems throughout the regular season, forcing him to miss games for recovery and management. However, he has played in every playoff game so far without limitations until this recent setback.
The Nuggets’ depth is already tested with fellow starting forward Michael Porter Jr. nursing a shoulder injury. If Gordon cannot play in Game 7, Denver will face a major challenge against the top-seeded Thunder in Oklahoma City.
In the deciding Game 6, Nikola Jokic led Denver with 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Jamal Murray, who played despite being sick, added 25 points. Christian Braun scored a career playoff-best 23 points, and Julian Strawther provided a crucial spark off the bench with 15 points.
The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 32 points and Chet Holmgren’s double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds), will host Game 7 on Sunday afternoon. The winner will advance to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who already advanced by beating the Golden State Warriors 4-1, await the winner.
For the Nuggets, the next 48 hours will be crucial as they watch Gordon’s recovery closely. His status may very well decide if the defending champions can continue their title defense or if their season ends in Oklahoma City.
