The Denver Nuggets managed to keep their season alive on Thursday night but may have done so at a cost.
Denver defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-107 in Game 6 of their second-round playoff series at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. The victory by the Nuggets sets up a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
But Denver forward Aaron Gordon had a very concerning moment late in the game. With less than two minutes remaining, Gordon dribbled off his own foot and then came up hobbled while trying to chase down the loose ball. Gordon grabbed at his left hamstring and looked to be in visible discomfort.
Here is the video of the play.
This is the play that Aaron Gordon appeared to injury his left hamstring
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) May 16, 2025
-Major concern heading into Game 7 pic.twitter.com/qsRuLXF1mq
Gordon did remain in the game for a few more possessions but did not look particularly mobile or involved. He then substituted out of the contest after a timeout with 1:10 remaining, returned to the floor after another timeout with 55.1 seconds left, and then exited for good on a free-throw sequence with 53.1 seconds remaining.
After the game, Nuggets interim coach David Adelman told reporters that it was too early to know much about Gordon’s hamstring issue but added that there was a “high” level of concern. Adelman did note though that there are at least two full days of rest before Game 7 on Sunday.
The former top-five pick Gordon has been a hero for Denver throughout this postseason with epic game-winners in each of the Nuggets’ first two series thus far. He has been less effective however over the last two contests against the Thunder with a 13-5-3 line in Game 5 and a 5-7-7 line in Game 6.
It is unclear if Gordon is actually dealing with a hamstring injury right now or merely suffered a cramp on that play. He will obviously do anything and everything possible to be ready for Sunday’s Game 7. But the contingency plan for the Nuggets in the unlikely event that Gordon cannot go will be extended minutes for bench forwards Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther (the latter of whom ignited Denver with 15 big points in Thursday’s Game 6).
