The Denver Nuggets’ bid to reclaim the NBA championship appeared to take a massive blow on Sunday morning with news that Aaron Gordon’s hamstring injury needs a month to heal.
But hours later, it emerged that the 29-year-old was ready to play through the pain barrier for his team in Game 7 against Oklahoma City Thunder.
Gordon has a Grade 2 hamstring strain that will take ‘approximately one month’ for him to recover from, ESPN’s Shams Charania said.
‘He could very well miss the remainder of the playoffs,’ Charania said early Sunday. ‘It is becoming physically improbable to play through this.
‘It is difficult timing… he has been one of the best players of the playoffs.’
But hours later, it emerged Gordon was available and ready to start for his team on Sunday.
Aaron Gordon was ready to start for Denver Nuggets with a Grade 2 hamstring strain Sunday
The injury news came hours before the Denver Nuggets face OKC in Game 7 on Sunday
The Minnesota Timberwolves are waiting for the victor from Sunday’s game with Game 1 being held Tuesday night.
Gordon played a central part in the team that won the 2023 NBA championship and have averaged 16.8 points a game in the playoffs so far – the best numbers of his career in the postseason.
But injuries have hindered him this time around, with a right calf issue limiting him to 51 appearances in the regular season for the Nuggets.
Going into Sunday’s game, the Nuggets also had questions over the availability of Jamal Murray, who is ill, and Russell Westbrook, who has a right hand sprain. They too followed Gordon in being available for the game.
While the Nuggets fight to make the Western Conference finals, the Easten Conference showdown has been set between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.
That series starts Wednesday, with it being the first time the Knicks have made it this far in the postseason since 1999.