Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić has the Denver Nuggets holding the second spot in the Western Conference standings. While Jokić has received help from scoring guard Jamal Murray, who is on pace to make his first All-Star team, the Nuggets are missing several valuable contributors.
The latest update provides insight into when Aaron Gordon and others may return to the court.
Latest Injury Updates on the Denver Nuggets
At the top of the Nuggets’ injury report is Gordon, who was making a strong push for an All-Star Game selection this season. However, the forward suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain last month, which has kept him sidelined. ESPN noted that “Gordon is not expected to return before Christmas.”
Gordon is averaging 18.8 points per game this season, and his shooting put the rest of the NBA on notice before the injury. He is shooting 53.2% from the field and 44.4% from 3-point range, along with an elite 67.6% true shooting percentage. Gordon has seemingly made the leap from complementary player to legitimate star this season, creating intrigue about whether he can sustain that level of performance upon his return.
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Guard Christian Braun has been sidelined for a month after suffering a severe left ankle sprain. ESPN reported that “Braun was spotted doing some training off to the side during (last) Saturday’s practice,” but he remains out. Braun is averaging 11.4 points per game this season while struggling with his shooting. However, his defense has improved, as his 107.2 defensive rating is the lowest of his career. Despite his perimeter struggles, Braun remains a young player with significant upside.
Another young player showing growth is 2022 first-round pick Peyton Watson. Watson is averaging a career-high 10.5 points per game while shooting 50.3% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. He exited the Nuggets’ recent game against the Houston Rockets after taking a hit to his side, saying swelling around his hip and rib cage made it difficult to move. ESPN noted that Watson is questionable for Denver’s upcoming game against the Orlando Magic.
Another player listed as questionable is sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr., who is dealing with an illness, according to ESPN. His first season in Denver has gone well, as he is averaging 12.2 points per game while shooting 40.5% from 3-point range. Hardaway Jr.’s current net rating of plus-5 is the highest of his career.
While the Nuggets currently boast the NBA’s highest-scoring offense and best offensive rating, they could become even more difficult to defend once Gordon and Braun return.
