The Denver Nuggets will be without forward Aaron Gordon for at least the next month, as the team announced he’s dealing with a right hamstring strain. He’ll be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, which puts his potential return sometime in March-right as the regular season hits its most critical stretch.
Gordon suffered the injury during last Friday’s narrow 102-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He logged just 16 minutes in the first half before exiting the game.
And unfortunately, this isn't a new issue. It's the same hamstring that sidelined him earlier this season, and this latest setback is starting to cast a shadow over what was shaping up to be a strong year for the 30-year-old.
Before the injury bug bit again, Gordon was putting together one of the best seasons of his career. He’s averaging a career-high 17.7 points per game and has continued to be a legitimate threat from deep, connecting on 40% of his three-point attempts for the second straight season.
But availability has been the big challenge. He’s played in just 23 games so far, and his absence is just one piece of a much larger puzzle for a Nuggets team that’s been trying to stay upright amid a wave of injuries.
Denver’s injury report heading into Thursday’s matchup with the Brooklyn Nets reads more like a rotation than a list of sidelined players. Gordon is out, as is three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, who’s dealing with a left knee bone bruise.
Christian Braun (left ankle sprain), Tamar Bates (recovering from foot surgery), and Cameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise) are also unavailable. Jamal Murray, battling both right hamstring inflammation and a left hip issue, and Jonas Valančiūnas (right calf strain) are listed as probable.
Despite the setbacks, the Nuggets have held their own. They’ve gone 9-5 without Jokić and currently sit third in the Western Conference standings. They’re two games ahead of the fourth-place Houston Rockets and trail the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder by 6.5 games.
The good news? Help is on the way.
Jokić, who hyperextended his knee on December 30, is on track to be re-evaluated in early February. If his recovery stays on schedule, Denver could start to resemble its full-strength self in time for the final playoff push.
With the trade deadline looming on February 5, the Nuggets do have decisions to make. They’re currently about $400,000 over the luxury tax line, and while they could look for reinforcements, the smarter play might be to ride it out with the current roster-especially if the team can get healthy in the coming weeks.
For now, though, it’s about weathering the storm. Gordon’s absence stings, no doubt.
He’s been a key two-way piece, especially in the frontcourt alongside Jokić. But Denver has shown resilience all season, and if they can stay afloat a little longer, they might just be in position to make a serious run when it matters most.