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[Saba Sports News] Aaron Gordon has been battling a significant injury since exiting Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder, but the veteran forward has made the bold decision to play through it.
Despite being diagnosed with a Grade 2 hamstring strain—an injury that typically requires several weeks of recovery—Gordon suited up for Game 7 on Sunday. The 29-year-old was listed as active and appeared to move reasonably well during Denver’s pregame shootaround.
Gordon sustained the injury late in Game 6 while fighting for a loose ball in the final minutes. Though he’s unlikely to be at full strength, his presence alone is a major lift for Denver.
Outside of Nikola Jokic, Gordon has arguably been the Nuggets’ most valuable player this postseason. He delivered clutch performances in multiple games, including a buzzer-beating putback slam to win Game 4 of the first round against the Clippers and a go-ahead three-pointer in Game 1 versus the Thunder.
Through the first six games of the Thunder series, Gordon has averaged 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest—production the Nuggets will need as they look to advance.