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“Mr. Nugget” is gutting it out with the team’s season on the line.
Playoff riser and championship-winning forward Aaron Gordon will play in Game 7 against the Thunder on Sunday, fighting through a Grade 2 hamstring strain suffered toward the end of Denver’s home Game 6 victory.
The Nuggets are in Oklahoma City to face the No. 1 seed Thunder and current NBA title favorites in a Western Conference semifinal to determine the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Western Conference Finals opponent.
The Western Conference Finals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday evening, with the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 hosting due to seeding.
Aaron Gordon is active for Game 7 despite a hamstring injury. NBAE via Getty ImagesGordon’s injury can require weeks of recovery due to the uncertain nature of hamstring ailments, but he’ll give it a go with Denver’s season on the line.
He was initially declared doubtful despite having just two days to recover in between Games 6 and 7.
Golden State Warriors megastar Stephen Curry had a similar hamstring injury during Game 1 of his team’s series against the Timberwolves, and Minnesota went on to win 4-1 as Curry did not play another game in the series.
Curry was expected to have a chance at returning for Game 6 over one week removed from the setback, pending a positive result stemming from a reevaluation.
Gordon, whose official status had been doubtful, has been instrumental in the Nuggets’ playoff run, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists over 38.2 minutes per game.
His contributions include two game-winning shots: a buzzer-beating dunk in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers and a near last-second 3-pointer in Game 1 against the Thunder to give Denver a 1-0 lead in this current series.
Despite participating in a team walkthrough on Saturday, interim head coach David Adelman indicated that Gordon’s availability would depend on his comfort level and medical advice.
Aaron Gordon handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round 2, Game 6 on May 15, 2025. NBAE via Getty ImagesGordon is their best defensive player from a versatility standpoint and is one of the team’s best offensive complements to multiple-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
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