Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon to miss at least 4–6 weeks with Grade 2 hamstring strain
nuggets-gordon-hamstring-injury-4-6-weeks
Denver — Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of four to six weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain in his right hamstring, sources told ESPN on Sunday.
Gordon sustained the injury during Friday’s road victory over the Houston Rockets. The team conducted imaging on Saturday that confirmed the extent of the damage, and he will be reevaluated in late December or early January.
The 30-year-old becomes the second Nuggets starter ruled out for an extended stretch. Guard Christian Braun has been unavailable since spraining his ankle on Nov. 12 and was also projected to miss at least six weeks.
Gordon opened the season with a career-high 50-point performance against the Golden State Warriors and is posting personal bests in scoring (18.8 ppg) and three-point accuracy (44.4%). According to ESPN Research, he is one of seven players averaging at least 15 points while shooting 50% from the field, 40% from beyond the arc and 85% at the free-throw line.
Before Friday’s matchup, Gordon had been managing issues in both hamstrings. Last postseason, he played through a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring during Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Denver’s offseason focus on bolstering its bench will now be tested. Fourth-year forward Peyton Watson is expected to see increased minutes alongside newcomers Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas.
The Nuggets enter Sunday’s action at 12-4, sitting second in the Western Conference behind the 16-1 Thunder.
Source: ESPN
