Aaron Gordon, Nuggets
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Aaron Gordon of the Denver Nuggets exits the game due to injury.
The Denver Nuggets were dealt another significant blow Thursday after learning that forward Aaron Gordon will miss extended time following a setback to his right hamstring.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Gordon will be sidelined for at least a month.
“Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks with a right hamstring strain,” Charania reported Thursday. “Gordon re-aggravated the previous hamstring injury he sustained in late November.”
The development compounds Denver’s growing injury concerns as the team navigates a critical stretch of the regular season.
Gordon Suffers Setback After Brief Return
Gordon had recently returned from a month-long absence after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain on Nov. 21 against Houston. He aggravated the same injury during the second quarter of Denver’s 102–100 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and did not return.
The recurrence raises concern given Gordon’s recent history. He also battled hamstring issues during last season’s postseason, making durability an ongoing question as Denver pushes toward the playoffs.
Head coach David Adelman initially expressed cautious optimism following the game.
“I feel for him,” Adelman said. “He’s optimistic it’s not as bad as the last one. But we won’t know until we get it actually tested.”
Further evaluation confirmed a more serious outcome.
Nuggets Short-Handed in Recent Losses
Denver has already felt Gordon’s absence.
The Nuggets dropped a 109–107 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday after Jamal Murray missed two of three free throws with four seconds remaining. Gordon did not play in that game, while Nikola Jokić, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun continued rehabilitating their respective injuries.
Despite the depleted lineup, Denver has remained competitive — though the margin for error continues to narrow.
Nikola Jokić Update Adds Pressure
Nikola Jokic
GettyNikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets will take more time to recover from a knee injury.
Gordon’s injury comes as the Nuggets await the return of their franchise cornerstone.
Charania reported Tuesday that Jokić is expected to miss at least another week as he progresses through the final stages of his recovery.
“I’m told the Denver Nuggets will re-evaluate Nikola Jokić in about a week,” Charania said on NBA Today. “He is making great progress. He’s in the ramp-up phase of his return-to-play process, but this is a Nuggets team — as well as Nikola Jokić — that is weighing long-term health and success over the entire season.”
Jokić has now missed 15 consecutive games. Under NBA rules, players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards. Missing three more games would render Jokić ineligible, effectively removing him from MVP consideration.
Before being sidelined, Jokić was again producing historic numbers, averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and a career-high 11.0 assists.
Denver Prioritizes Health Over Awards
The Nuggets’ medical staff and front office have remained aligned in their approach, emphasizing postseason readiness over individual accolades.
“This is a Nuggets team that has played so well without him, keeping their heads well above water,” Charania added. “They were third in the Western Conference when Jokic got hurt, and they remain third as he nears a return.”
Denver is 9–6 without Jokić this season, a notable improvement from last year, when the team went 4–8 during his absence.
Standings Tighten in the West
Despite the injuries, the Nuggets remain firmly in the Western Conference race.
Denver (31–16) sits one game behind the San Antonio Spurs (32–15) for the No. 2 seed and two games ahead of the Houston Rockets (28–17) in fourth.
Valančiūnas Provides Needed Lift
Amid mounting injury concerns, the Nuggets received a dose of positive news.
Center Jonas Valančiūnas returned from a one-game absence and delivered a strong performance, finishing with 16 points and 16 rebounds. His presence provided stability in the interior as Denver continues to manage without Gordon and Jokić.
The Nuggets will continue their five-game homestand Thursday against the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets before hosting the surging Los Angeles Clippers, who have won three straight and nine of their last 10 games, on Friday. They will wind up their week with a primetime matchup against the No. 1 seed and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder (38-10) on Sunday.
With Gordon sidelined, Jokić nearing a return and Valančiūnas stepping up, Denver faces a defining stretch that will test both its depth and its patience as it aims to stay among the West’s elite.