The Denver Nuggets collected their sixth consecutive win on Sunday, defeating the Golden State Warriors, but finished the night with a shrinking group of healthy forwards.
Head coach David Adelman anticipated having a full rotation, yet veteran starter Aaron Gordon was ruled out shortly before tip-off after experiencing left-calf tightness when he woke up. Gordon had only recently returned from a 17-game absence caused by a strained right hamstring, leading the club to sit him as a precaution. Peyton Watson, who came back last Sunday after six weeks on the sideline with his own hamstring issue, moved into the first unit but picked up four fouls in the opening half, limiting his minutes to roughly 20.
Denver’s depth was tested further when Spencer Jones felt right-hamstring tightness following the first quarter and did not return. Jones had been filling in at backup center, forcing Adelman to juggle his lineups again.
Early in the third period, Cameron Johnson headed to the locker room clutching the right side of his torso. Team staff later diagnosed back spasms and listed him as questionable. Zeke Nnaji replaced Johnson at power forward, only to exit minutes later after landing awkwardly on a play in which Kristaps Porziņģis struck him in the face. Nnaji was diagnosed with a left-hip impingement and left the arena on crutches.
“It’s just been so funny—this year has been like that,” Adelman said postgame. “It’s never a guard and a forward, or a guard and a center. The whole position group goes out.”
The rash of injuries reopened the door for center Jonas Valančiūnas, benched in the previous five games. He logged five minutes Sunday and could see an expanded role while teammates recover.
No immediate timetable was provided for any of the injuries. The Nuggets are off until Wednesday, when they travel to Utah. Adelman noted Johnson might have re-entered Sunday’s game if the score had been closer but added that medical evaluations would continue Monday. “Players always say they’re going to be fine,” Adelman told reporters. “We’ll get a better look tomorrow. I haven’t heard anything about MRIs or X-rays yet.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
