Injuries continue to test Denver’s depth and resilience, and the latest blow comes in the form of another extended absence for forward Aaron Gordon. The veteran is expected to miss at least a month with a strained right hamstring - the same one that kept him sidelined earlier this season - and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
Gordon aggravated the injury during a recent matchup with the Bucks, a frustrating development considering the initial strain already cost him six weeks earlier in the year. His absence leaves a noticeable gap in Denver’s rotation.
He’s not just a stat-sheet contributor - he’s a connector, a versatile two-way presence who brings physicality on defense and finishing ability on offense. His impact often flies under the radar, but the Nuggets feel it when he’s not out there.
Despite missing Gordon for a sizable stretch already - Denver has gone 14-10 in the games he’s missed - the team has managed to stay afloat. Their net rating with Gordon off the floor sits at +0.7, a testament to the roster’s ability to adapt, but also a reminder of how much tighter the margins become without him.
Unfortunately for Denver, Gordon’s injury is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The Nuggets are currently navigating a brutal stretch where four of their starters are sidelined. Nikola Jokic, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, and now Gordon are all out, and Jamal Murray is battling a hamstring issue of his own, listed as day-to-day.
Jokic, the engine of everything Denver does, has been out for a month with a bone bruise stemming from a hyperextended left knee. The good news?
He’s nearing a return and is expected to be re-evaluated within the next week. In the meantime, Denver has stayed competitive, going 9-5 since the reigning MVP went down - a mark that’s helped them hold steady at the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference standings.
That kind of performance speaks volumes about the team’s depth and resolve. But make no mistake - this group is built around its stars. The longer they’re out, the more pressure falls on the supporting cast to keep the ship steady in a tightly packed Western race.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Denver has shown it can weather these storms. But with Gordon now joining a growing injury list, the path forward won’t be easy. The Nuggets are holding their ground - but they’re doing it without some of their most important pieces.