OKLAHOMA CITY — Denver Nuggets energy ahead Aaron Gordon was cleared to play in Sunday’s Recreation 7 in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and within the beginning lineup regardless of a left hamstring pressure.
The Nuggets introduced Gordon’s standing about 35 minutes earlier than tipoff following his particular person warmup. He didn’t make any explosive actions throughout that session.
Sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania that it’s a Grade 2 pressure, an damage that usually requires a minimum of a month of restoration. Gordon sustained the damage late within the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Recreation 6 win.
Gordon suffered the damage late in Thursday’s series-extending Recreation 6 win. He was formally listed as questionable to play earlier than Sunday’s sport.
Gordon, a necessary a part of the core of Denver’s group that received the 2022-23 title, has been a pressure through the Nuggets’ run this postseason. He’s averaging profession playoff highs of 16.8 factors and seven.3 rebounds and has made a number of clutch performs.
The Nuggets are 5-0 this postseason when Gordon scores a minimum of 20 factors, and his seven assists in Recreation 6 are tied for probably the most in any sport of his playoff profession.
Gordon has hit a pair of successful photographs this postseason — a buzzer-beating putback dunk in Recreation 4 in opposition to the LA Clippers and a 3-pointer with three seconds left in Recreation 1 in opposition to the Thunder. He additionally made a 3-pointer with 28 seconds remaining in regulation that pressured extra time in Denver’s Recreation 3 victory over Oklahoma Metropolis.
Accidents restricted Gordon, 29, to 51 video games through the common season. He sat out two prolonged stretches due to a proper calf pressure that he’s additionally managing.
“If Aaron can go, he’ll go,” interim coach David Adelman mentioned. “That is who he’s. There’s some actual toughness there. Generally being actually, actually powerful and being harm can get in the best way.”
