Denver Nuggets energy ahead Aaron Gordon faces lengthy odds to play in Sunday’s Recreation 7, as he has a Grade 2 hamstring pressure and wishes a number of weeks to recuperate from the damage, sources advised ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Gordon, the Nuggets’ playoff star, has been trying to find methods to play in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, however it’s turning into bodily unbelievable to take action.
He had exited Thursday’s series-extending Recreation 6 win late within the fourth quarter after grabbing at his hamstring.
The Nuggets had held some hope that Gordon would play after he participated in a walkthrough Saturday, although interim coach David Adelman mentioned the staff would wait and see how Gordon was feeling Sunday. He’s listed as questionable on the NBA damage report.
Gordon, an important a part of the core of Denver’s staff that received the 2022-23 title, has been a pressure in the course of the Nuggets’ run this postseason. He’s averaging profession playoff highs of 16.8 factors and seven.3 rebounds per recreation and has made a number of clutch performs.
The Nuggets are 5-0 this postseason when Gordon scores not less than 20 factors, and his seven assists in Recreation 6 are tied for essentially the most in any recreation of his playoff profession.
Gordon has hit a pair of profitable 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 in the course of the common season. He sat out two prolonged stretches due to a proper calf pressure that Gordon is managing.
Nuggets guards Jamal Murray (sickness) and Russell Westbrook (proper hand sprain) are listed as possible.
The winner of Sunday’s contest will host Recreation 1 of the Western Convention finals Tuesday in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Info from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon was used on this report.