The Denver Nuggets just can’t seem to catch a break on the injury front, and the latest blow hits a key piece of their starting lineup: Aaron Gordon is expected to miss another four-to-six weeks with a right hamstring strain - a frustrating setback for a player who’s already spent significant time on the shelf this season.
This isn’t a new issue for Gordon. It’s a reaggravation of the same hamstring injury that sidelined him for the entire month of December.
After returning on January 4, he managed to string together 10 games - a stretch that included some strong performances - before tweaking the hamstring again during last Friday’s narrow 102-100 win over the Bucks. The injury occurred late in the second quarter, and Gordon didn’t return for the second half.
Head coach David Adelman said after the game that Gordon was hopeful the strain wasn’t as severe as the first one. But after further testing, the news wasn’t what anyone in Denver wanted to hear.
“I feel for him,” Adelman said. “He’s optimistic it’s not as bad as it was, the last one. But we won’t know until we get it actually tested.”
It’s a tough break for Gordon, who’s been excellent when healthy. In the 23 games he’s played this season, he’s averaging a career-best 17.7 points per game, along with 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
He’s also shooting a highly efficient 50.9% from the field and an impressive 40.0% from beyond the arc. He opened the season with a 50-point outburst - a statement game that made it clear he was ready to take on an even bigger role alongside Nikola Jokic.
But that momentum has been undercut by recurring leg issues, and now the Nuggets are staring down the possibility of being without Gordon until late February - or even longer if they choose to be cautious, which seems likely given the timing. With the playoffs looming and Denver still trying to find consistency in its rotations, every missed game matters.
This isn’t an isolated case either. Christian Braun, who returned from an ankle injury around the same time as Gordon, has also been sidelined again after just three games due to the same issue. The Nuggets are clearly in a situation where managing minutes and avoiding re-injury is a top priority.
And then there’s the big one: Nikola Jokic, the engine of the team, has been out since December 29 with a bone bruise in his left knee. His return timeline remains up in the air, with a reevaluation expected early next week. Without Jokic, Denver has had to rely on a patchwork lineup - and while they’ve managed a respectable 9-6 record in his absence, the margin for error is getting thinner by the day.
Cameron Johnson is also still out with a knee bone bruise, dating back to December 23, and Jonas Valanciunas only just returned after missing a month with a leg injury. Add in the nagging injuries to Peyton Watson and Jamal Murray, and it’s clear this team has been in survival mode for much of the season.
Still, there’s been a silver lining. Murray has been playing some of the best regular-season basketball of his career, and the young guys have stepped up when called upon.
That resilience has kept Denver in the thick of the Western Conference race. They’re currently tied in the loss column for second place with Houston and San Antonio, all chasing Oklahoma City.
But with Gordon out again, the depth is being tested even further. And the bigger question now is whether he can stay healthy when it matters most. He hasn’t played in 16 straight games since the 2023-24 season - and that’s the exact number of wins Denver will need to secure another championship.
For now, it’s about weathering the storm. The Nuggets have only had their full starting five available for 15 games this season - and they’ve gone 12-3 in those contests.
That’s the version of this team that can make another deep playoff run. The challenge is getting back to that lineup in time to build chemistry, find rhythm, and hit the postseason with momentum.
Until then, it’s next man up - and a lot of hoping that the cavalry arrives before the clock runs out.