Nuggets Aaron Gordon Plays Through Grade 2 Hamstring Injury in Playoff Exit

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon played through a painful Grade 2 hamstring strain in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite the injury typically requiring several weeks to heal. Gordon logged 24 minutes, scoring eight points and grabbing 11 rebounds, demonstrating his commitment even though he later acknowledged he couldn't sprint during the game. He warned that the demanding NBA playoff schedule—with only one day off between games—puts players at risk, calling for more rest days to improve player health and game quality. Gordon noted that had the Nuggets advanced, he likely would have missed two or three games to recover, highlighting the risks players take due to the current schedule. Denver's interim coach David Adelman praised Gordon's toughness but emphasized the challenges the team would face without him, given his key role in scoring, rebounding, and ball-handling. The situation underscores broader concerns about player injuries during the playoffs, including high-profile cases like Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum.