OKLAHOMA CITY — Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will not play in Denver’s second game of a back-to-back against the Thunder on Monday night after leaving the first game with right calf tightness.
According to the team’s injury report, Gordon is out due to both right-calf injury management and a left ankle sprain. The latter caused him to miss three games last week; his right calf has sidelined him for more than 20 games this season, most recently in January.
Nikola Jokic (right elbow) and Jamal Murray (left knee) were listed as questionable Monday.
Despite Gordon’s sudden departure from the game Sunday, which Denver lost 127-103, his calf tightness is not believed to be a serious re-injury. Still, coach Michael Malone has acknowledged that Gordon will likely be dealing with the injury for the remainder of the season.
In addition to the two prolonged stretches he has missed due to the right calf, Gordon also came off the bench while on a minutes restriction for another eight games in January.
He is averaging 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and three assists in 38 games. The most striking development in his game has been a dramatically improved 3-point shot. Gordon is 44.4% from the perimeter on an average of 3.1 attempts this season, up from 29% on 1.9 attempts in 2023-24. Last Friday, he made four consecutive 3s in the first six minutes of game time en route to 27 points in a win over the Phoenix Suns.
“He’s got a gym in the house. … He’s not your normal dude, man,” coach Michael Malone said after the game. “Aaron operates on a different wavelength.”
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