The road to another championship for Aaron Gordon and the Denver Nuggets won’t be easy. Even escaping the Western Conference will be a challenge, starting right away with a tough first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Adding to the concern is the uncertainty surrounding Gordon’s availability. He took a shot to the face during the regular season finale against the Houston Rockets—an injury that, depending on severity, could sideline him for a game or two, as has been the case with similar injuries in the past.
Will Aaron Gordon Play in Game 1 vs. the Clippers?
Gordon looked a little worse for wear while talking with reporters on April 18, displaying a black eye and a fat lip.
Aaron Gordon on the differences between a David Adelman and Michael Malone practice:
"Everybody has a little bit more of an input." pic.twitter.com/XTMyofg4PV
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) April 18, 2025
However, Gordon’s name did not appear in the Nuggets’ most recent official injury report before Game 1 against the Clippers. The only name who did was Daron Holmes II, who is currently out due to “Right Achilles Tendon Repair.”
This is fantastic news for the Nuggets, as it means Aaron Gordon will be ready for Game 1. More importantly, it ensures Denver’s rotation will be at full strength as their playoff run begins.
That said, it remains to be seen whether Gordon’s facial injury will affect his performance on the floor. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him wearing a protective mask to avoid aggravating the injury—a common precaution in situations like this.
Time will tell how much the injury impacts him, but any limitation could be significant. Denver has faced criticism all season for losing the depth that made them so formidable over the past two years. Even with arguably the best player in the NBA leading the way, the roster’s vulnerabilities have been too obvious for opponents to ignore.
Those concerns could become even more glaring if Gordon isn’t at 100%. Since joining the team in 2021, he has been a difference-maker—elevating the Nuggets from good to great. If he’s not himself, their path to a repeat gets even steeper.
Adding to the challenge is their first-round opponent: the Los Angeles Clippers—the same team Denver humiliated in the 2020 playoffs. While the Clippers have undergone several changes since that infamous collapse, they still have Kawhi Leonard, one of the premier playoff performers of this era.
For the first time in years, Leonard enters the postseason fully healthy—and with revenge on his mind.
The good news? From a health perspective, the Nuggets are in a solid spot. If they fall short against the Clippers, they won’t be able to blame injuries. This time, it’ll come down to performance.