Latest on Gordon

New York Times

18-05-2025

Denver and Oklahoma City face off with the winner advancing to the Western Conference finals Getty Images
Team sources tell me that Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is expected to warm up with about an hour left before tip-off and make his decision from there. It seems improbable, if not impossible, that he could compete in a high-level playoff game with such a serious injury, but team sources say the Nuggets went through a walk-through as a team yesterday with Gordon part of the game plan.
Gordon, meanwhile, has been telling people within the team since yesterday that he plans on giving it a go. We shall see. Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon has a Grade 2 hamstring strain, a team source confirmed to The Athletic , which is going to put his status for Sunday afternoon even more in doubt. Gordon was injured in Game 6, and although there is still a feeling within the Nuggets that Gordon will try and give it a go against Oklahoma City, it is looking increasingly doubtful that it can happen.
Without Gordon, Peyton Watson is in line for a big load of minutes and responsibility. He is a 6-foot-8 forward who brings a real shot of athleticism, defense, energy and rim protection to Denver's lineup. But he has never been in this big a moment with this big of a spotlight on him. He will have to come up big if the Nuggets are going to have a chance to win.
The Thunder are 6-5 in NBA playoff Game 7s all-time dating back to their days as the Seattle SuperSonics.
Their last Game 7 came in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs, which were played in the Disney World "Bubble" in Orlando due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Thunder lost that game to the Houston Rockets.
Russell Westbrook also played in that game, and also did so against the Thunder franchise that drafted him and that he won an MVP with in 2017. Westbrook had 20 points in the Rockets victory. Getty Images
Denver could become one just the 19th team in NBA history to win multiple Game 7s in the same playoffs. Of course, the Nuggets did that in the 2020 playoffs in the bubble. Only the 1988 Lakers won three Game 7s in the same postseason. Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets could be without starting power forward Aaron Gordon for Game 7. An MRI revealed that Gordon has sustained a strained hamstring, putting his availability for the second-round series finale against the Oklahoma City Thunder in doubt, team sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Gordon will officially be listed as questionable for Sunday afternoon's contest at Paycom Center, team sources told The Athletic . Gordon will continue receiving treatment in the days and hours leading up to the game, in the hope to try and play, according to those sources.
Read more below. Getty Images
"I'm just glad we won," Jamal Murray told ESPN after his 25-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist performance while battling the flu.
He shook his head dismissively when asked if there was any chance of his missing Game 6 after waking up sick early this morning. Getty Images
In Game 6, with a golden opportunity to advance to their first conference finals in a decade, the Thunder were flat.
There were a myriad of lead changes on Thursday evening, but instead of Oklahoma City flexing its 68-win muscles, it was Denver who played with necessary desperation to extend its season and keep the series dream alive.
Jalen Williams, who struggled yet again to be a consistent second option, finished with just six points on 3-for-16 shooting, despite leading all players in assists. At the other end, Murray was in constant attack mode. Williams can't afford another game like that if the Thunder have any realistic hopes of getting to a conference final.
Through six games, it's clear that the Nuggets have more offensive weapons. If Oklahoma City can't match Denver's firepower on Sunday, it'll need to be tactically sound in all phases of gameplay to advance. Getty Images
For the first time in over two weeks, Denver will have more than one day of rest between games. The Nuggets have been running on fumes for much of this series because they went seven games against the LA Clippers, and then boarded a plane that Sunday and started the series against the Thunder that Monday.
'Guys looked more happy to have two days off than to be going to a Game 7,' Denver interim head coach David Adelman said.
That's going to be important. Aaron Gordon grabbed at his hamstring late in the fourth quarter of Game 6. The Nuggets can ill-afford to be without him on Sunday, or to even have a hobbled version of him. Adelman said the concern level is 'high.'
The Nuggets also get some rest for Murray and Jokić. Denver knew it had to come up with one win on Thursday night, and the Nuggets were able to come up with that win and give themselves some much-needed rest. Getty Images
DENVER — The celebrations began before the final buzzer had even sounded, Denver Nuggets players hugging and congratulating each other on a job well done, a series extended and a season saved.
At the opposite end of the court, a thick layer of melancholy was present. Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault ducked under the tunnel, fidgeting with his fingers as if he was attempting to draw up a play that would alleviate his team's collective pain. One by one, the players headed for the locker room, their heads looking at the ground — all while the boos from Ball Arena rained down upon them.
And for as much optimism as the locker room portrayed after the fact, there was no escaping the reality that Oklahoma City had let a golden opportunity slip. On Thursday night, the Thunder had a chance — several chances, to be honest — to put the Nuggets away. To avoid the tension and nervousness that can come with a Game 7. To advance to their first Western Conference finals in nearly a decade.
They didn't.
Read more on the Thunder's Game 6 loss below.
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Thunder fall flat against the Nuggets and now face the pressure of Game 7 Imagn Images
Matthew C.: That was an amazing performance last night by him.
Donald M.: Regardless of how this series finishes, I'm cautiously optimistic about the Nuggets solving their depth issue next season. If Braun, Strawther, Pickett, and Watson all just take a reasonable step forward-- a likely scenario for players that are in their early 20s-- it'll be a big deal.
Patrick M.: This feels like a tangible difference from how Malone would've approached this. I can't envision him calling on Strawther in an elimination game and giving him this opportunity. Good on Adelman for taking the risk, knowing we needed the shooting badly.
John R.: Makes me wonder if Malone was coaching if Strawther would have played. That was an issue with Watson last year. Getty Images
DENVER — Julian Strawther heads to Ball Arena and goes through the same mundane and tedious routine, often wondering if or when it will lead to substantial playing time for the Denver Nuggets. But he goes through the routine, regardless. It's part of his job as a professional ballplayer, and he knows that's what will keep him in the NBA beyond his current rookie-scale contract. He gets taped and changes into his practice gear. He goes through film with his player development coach, Nuggets assistant John Beckett. And then he gets on the floor and shoots. And shoots. And then shoots some more.
'It's my job to get these shots up,' Strawther said.
On Thursday night, Strawther played the role of hero for Denver, which forced a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 119-107 home win. The Nuggets won while playing for a ninth time in 17 days. They survived a pulled left hamstring from Aaron Gordon, a sickness from Jamal Murray that forced IV treatment earlier in the day and a first-half run by the Thunder that left them staring down the barrel of the end of their season.
Read more on the Nuggets below.
GO FURTHER
Julian Strawther answers Nuggets' desperate call for depth in Game 6 vs. Thunder Getty Images
Who deserves to win NBA MVP this year? Will the winner of this series go on to win the NBA Finals? And who will be the X-factor in this massive Game 7?
We want to hear your thoughts on all of the above and anything else you have to say about this game! Just send us an email: [e-mail]. We'll feature some of our favorite submissions throughout today's coverage!
And if you already subscribe to The Athletic , you can also get involved by heading over to the "Discuss" tab at the top of this page on our website and app. Getty Images
Game 7 of the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals series between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder is set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
That's 2:30 p.m. CT local time in Oklahoma City and 1:30 p.m. MT in Denver. Getty Images
Game 7 of the NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals series between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will be broadcast on ABC.
You can also stream the game on Fubo. Getty Images
No, the postseason doesn't factor into the NBA MVP race. It's a regular season award for which the votes were submitted weeks ago.
But, we're about to get a winner-take-all Game 7 between the two frontrunners, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and ascending superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
And whatever happens today will go a long way towards how each of their MVP-worthy 2024-25 seasons is remembered. Getty Images
Hello basketball fans and welcome to The Athletic's live coverage of something defined by two of the greatest words in sports: Game 7.
That's right, it's win or go home for the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder in their NBA playoffs Western Conference semifinals series.
The winner will secure a spot in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The loser will see their season end after what has already become an instant classic of a playoff series.
So stick with us as our team of NBA experts on the ground in Oklahoma City will have you covered until opening tip and through the final buzzer! Getty Images
Jordan H.: As a Bulls fan with no horse in the race, I'm just enjoying the series. I figured Denver would make this interesting, but not to go 7. OKCs youth vs Denver's experience. Hope the game is good,
Adam O.: Gordon was grabbing his hamstring in the final 2 minutes and that is something to keep an eye on. Denver is in trouble if he's playing on one leg or if he can't play at all.
Anonymous: Man. I love both of these teams. I'm mystified by the change in Jokic's performance, he's so good, I assume he's trying to force other players to stay involved. After watching last night's game and those two young guys, I did think maybe they should rehire Calvin Booth, the kids were getting it done but also seemed a bit under seasoned.
Paul B.: Lots of guys struggle in the playoffs early in their careers, and it's easy to forget how young OKC is. But Williams and other guys will shoot better down the road.