Nuggets receive major Aaron Gordon injury update ahead of crucial matchup

The Denver Nuggets are in the process of figuring out how to move on from two rewarding seasons with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope anchoring the defensive perimeter. After falling to 0-2, the Nuggets seemingly began to find their way by winning four of their next five games.

At the heart of that success was the defensive versatility and unflappable three-point shooting of dynamic forward Aaron Gordon—a fact that's now equally as haunting as it is rewarding.

Fresh off of signing a three-year, $103,608,840 contract extension, Gordon has raised his all-around game. He's shooting 54.5 percent from beyond the arc and has increased his scoring and rebounding numbers from a season ago.

Unfortunately, Shams Charania of ESPN has delivered the worst-case scenario in reporting form: Gordon will miss several weeks of the 2024-25 regular season with a right calf strain.

Charania's report arrives just over 24 hours before the Nuggets are set to take on the undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder at Ball Arena.

Aaron Gordon to miss multiple weeks due to calf strain

Gordon suffered the injury early in the Nuggets' Nov. 4 encounter with the Toronto Raptors. It was right on the heels of Gordon putting together a string of performances that directly coincided with Denver getting back on the winning track.

That began when Gordon posted 16 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block in an Oct. 28 win over the Raptors.

The next time out, Gordon tallied 24 points in a 144-139 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. He followed that performance by posting a season-high 31 points and 11 rebounds against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and put up 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a victory against the Utah Jazz.

Even after the mere four minutes he played during the Nov. 4 game against the Raptors, Gordon is averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 three-point field goals made per game.

Unfortunately, the Nuggets will have to find a way to replace that production for several weeks. More importantly, a massive void will be left on the defensive end of the floor, where Gordon has been helping to alleviate the burden from Christian Braun as he fills the void left by Caldwell-Pope.

Up-and-comers Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson have been stepping up as of late, but on paper, it's unclear who will occupy the expansive defensive role that Gordon plays for Denver.

The schedule won't do the Nuggets any favors during that time. After hosting the Thunder on Nov. 6, they'll embark on a stretch of games against the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks—all potential playoff teams.

The silver lining is that Gordon's injury is occurring early in the regular season, but the Nuggets will have a massive void in the lineup ahead of a brutal stretch of the schedule.