The Denver Nuggets took care of business in Game 6 with a 119-107 win over the Thunder, but the vibes aren't as high as they should be. Aaron Gordon hurt his hamstring with over a minute left to play in the fourth quarter.
Chet Holmgren stripped the ball from AG, who went after it alongside Alex Caruso, who dove for it. Caruso threw the ball off Gordon's foot, and the officials blew their whistles for a kick ball violation. Gordon immediately grabbed his left hamstring and subbed out 30 seconds later, but briefly checked back in for an offensive possession before returning to the bench.
Tony Jones of The Athletic tweeted that AG was in good spirits after the game and didn't have wrap or ice on his hamstring. While that's good news, it doesn't mean that Gordon's hamstring isn't an issue.
Gordon said that he felt "okay" after the game and that he would start the recovery process to be ready for Game 7.
Aaron Gordon hurt hamstring late in Nuggets' Game 6 victory
Nuggets fans know it won't be easy for Denver to return to Paycom Center and knock off Oklahoma City in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. It won't be easy for the inexperienced Thunder to play with that kind of pressure on their shoulders against a team that knows what it's like to be in those moments. It'll be a battle from start to finish.
Gordon is a battle-tested player whose versatility allows him to throw down a game-winning dunk or three-pointer. He impacts the game on both ends, even when his shot isn't falling. AG had five points on 2-of-7 shooting in Game 6, but had seven rebounds, seven assists, and one steal. Not having him on the floor in an elimination game could be the final nail in Denver's coffin.
It isn't reassuring that Steph Curry hurt his hamstring in Game 1 of the Warriors-Timberwolves series and didn't return as his team lost four consecutive games. Having that fresh in the minds of Nuggets fans everywhere only adds to the concern. If AG can't play in Game 7 and Denver wins, will he be ready for the start of the WCF?
Hamstring injuries are tricky, but at least the Nuggets have two full days off before Sunday. That extra time will hopefully benefit Gordon specifically.