The Denver Nuggets will likely be without Aaron Gordon for Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. Gordon has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain and is expected to miss the crucial game, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He will reportedly need a month to fully recover, casting doubt on his availability for the remainder of the playoffs even if the Nuggets advance to the West finals.
Gordon had hoped to play in Game 7, but it has become “physically improbable” due to the severity of the injury. He sustained the hamstring strain in the fourth quarter of Game 6 on Thursday night. After accidentally bouncing the ball off his foot while trying to pick it up, Gordon limped off the court. He briefly remained in the game but was eventually subbed out. Gordon finished with 5 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in the 119-107 win at Ball Arena, which forced the series to a decisive Game 7.
This season, Gordon has averaged 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, his fourth full season with the Nuggets. He signed a four-year, $133 million extension with the team in October. Throughout the playoffs, Gordon has been a key player for the Nuggets, averaging 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in the series against the Thunder. Notable moments include his game-winning 3-pointer in Game 1 and a game-winning dunk in the opening-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nuggets have a perfect 5-0 record this postseason when Gordon scores at least 20 points.
Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City. A win would send the Nuggets to the Western Conference finals for the second time in the past three years. The Thunder, who earned the top seed in the Western Conference, haven’t reached the conference finals since 2016.