The Denver Nuggets went into their Sunday night game against the Golden State Warriors with Aaron Gordon as a late scratch.
As the day went on, Gordon’s status changed. The veteran forward was dealing with calf tightness.
Nuggets head coach David Adelman addressed Gordon’s absence with an alarming message. While he noted that the setback was “discomfort” and not an injury diagnosis, there is some concern from Denver that Gordon’s issue could become long-term if something goes slightly wrong.
“It’s just too delicate to play him,” Adelman told reporters, via the Denver Post.
“If something happens, even if something small happens, and he’s out for two weeks or whatever it is, that’s a killer with this many games to go. So no reason to (play him). Sometimes I really don’t know (if the injury is serious). Majority of the time, you really do want them to at least try. Go out there and see where their body is at. Today is not one of those times.”
The Denver Nuggets Are Nearing The Postseason
Aaron Gordon has already missed 44 games for the Nuggets this year.
Clearly, he was dealt a bad hand in the injury department this season. The Nuggets can’t afford many risks with his availability, as the postseason is nearing. Gordon is too valuable to lose in the playoffs over the Western Conference seeding race.
This year, Gordon has appeared in 32 games. Seeing the court for 27.6 minutes per game, the veteran forward is producing 16.6 points per game, while shooting 50.1% from the field and 39.9% from three.
Beyond his scoring, Gordon is coming down with 5.9 rebounds per game and producing 2.5 assists per game.
The Nuggets haven’t guaranteed a spot for themselves in the playoffs just yet, but they know they are well on their way to punching their ticket. After winning their sixth game in a row against the Golden State Warriors, Denver improved to 48-28 on the year.
They hold a 2.0-game lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets are also just 1.0 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers, who hold the third seed.
The Nuggets have a break in between games. Following Sunday’s 116-93 win over Golden State, the Nuggets won’t see the court again until April 1. They will pay a visit to the Utah Jazz.
Gordon’s status will be something to keep an eye on when the Nuggets release their injury report on Tuesday evening.