Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is navigating injury challenges as he seeks to contribute against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the ongoing postseason. The 29-year-old has come up big in key moments. For the Whipsnown team, his health is now the primary cause of concern.
Gordon has been key for the Nuggets all throughout their playoff run thus far. He averages admirable career playoff highs of 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He’s proven himself unflappable under duress, nailing two game-winning field-goals this playoffs. Weekend heroics aside, the play best remembered will be this buzzer-beating, putback dunk against the LA Clippers in Game 4. This amazing play was a prime example of his clutch gene.
In their semifinal series opener against the Thunder, Gordon hit what would prove to be the game-winning 3-pointer with only three seconds remaining on the game clock. That final shot earned Denver a tight win. He helped set the tone in Game 3. With only 28 seconds remaining in regulation, he hit a 3-pointer from deep to send the game into overtime, where he and the Nuggets would go on to prevail.
Injuries hindered Gordon from finding his groove during the regular season. This limited his impact, as he was only able to suit up in 51 games due to injury. After already missing significant time with a right calf strain and other injuries earlier in the season, he could not afford another health absence. After leaving in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Game 6 victory over the Thunder, he appeared to reach for his hamstring, a surefire cause for worry when it comes to the future availability for any NFL game.
Even with these struggles, Gordon is still a key member of the Nuggets’ core that won the 2022-23 NBA championship. His persistence and grit have turned him into a playoff force for Denver on this run. After making a number of clutch plays in both the regular season and playoffs, he has cemented his legacy as a repeat key contributor.
As the Nuggets head into their next game against the Thunder, they will be keeping a close eye on Gordon’s status. His recovery and ability to get back to form is going to be critical to Denver’s hopes in the playoffs.
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