Forward Aaron Gordon’s availability for the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder is in jeopardy.
Gordon sustained a left hamstring injury late in Game 6 against Oklahoma City, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the team announced the injury.
Gordon was tabbed as “the soul of this team” by players such as Nikola Jokić and played a crucial role in the Nuggets’ success throughout the postseason.
He hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of Game 1 that put the Nuggets ahead and proved to be the difference in a 121-119 victory against the Thunder.
The veteran power forward’s first clutch moment of the postseason came in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers. He had secured a 101-99 Game 4 victory for Denver with a putback dunk with .01 seconds left on the clock against the Clippers. Gordon collected a rebound before the clock expired after Jokić’s 3-pointer fell short of the basket.
The Nuggets do not have to send their injury report to the league office until 5 p.m. local time on Saturday. Golden State star Stephen Curry just missed the final four games of the Warriors’ series with a grade 1 hamstring strain.
How did Aaron Gordon suffer his hamstring injury?
Gordon was seen grabbing at his hamstring late in the Nuggets’ 119-107 Game 6 victory against the Thunder.
When is Nuggets-Thunder Game 7?
The Oklahoma City Thunder will play the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be played at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and air on ABC and ESPN+.