Aaron Gordon will miss at least the next couple of games for the Denver Nuggets with a right calf strain, adding another setback for the defending champions.
The injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Nuggets, who just dropped a 149-135 game to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
“We need to be really careful with these soft tissue injuries,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “They tend to stick around if you rush back too soon.”
Gordon hurt his calf during Wednesday’s 110-100 loss to the Phoenix Suns, leaving the game in the third quarter. It’s similar to an injury that kept him out for 10 games earlier this season.
The 29-year-old forward has been having one of his best shooting seasons ever. He’s hitting an impressive 44% of his three-pointers and 75.4% of his free throws – both career bests.
He’s putting up solid numbers across the board:
– 13.7 points per game
– 5.8 rebounds
– 3.1 assists
– 52.3% shooting from the field
The Nuggets clearly believe in Gordon’s future with the team. They locked him up with a massive contract extension in October – four years and $133 million starting in 2026-27. The deal includes a $37.09 million player option in the final year.
Gordon’s been a key piece for Denver since coming over from the Orlando Magic in 2021. He’s now in his fourth full season with the team, ranking fifth in scoring and third in rebounds among current Nuggets players.
The former fourth overall pick from Arizona has carved out a nice career for himself, averaging 13.5 points and 6.3 rebounds across 686 regular-season games.
For now, the Nuggets will have to manage without him when they host the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Malone’s hoping Gordon won’t be out too long, but they’re not taking any chances with his recovery.
“These injuries can linger if you’re not careful,” Malone said. “One explosive move and you’re right back where you started.”
