Nuggets’ Gordon To Miss Multiple Weeks With Calf Strain

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will be sidelined for “multiple weeks” as he recovers from a right calf strain, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN.

Gordon was listed on Denver’s injury report with right calf inflammation ahead of Monday’s game vs. Toronto. He was cleared to play, but logged just four minutes before exiting with what the team called a calf strain.

“Honestly, I was a little surprised he played last game,” head coach Michael Malone said after the game, per Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. “The schedule has not been overly kind to us early. I think he’s dealing with just bumps and bruises, nothing long-term. But I’ll have to talk to our training staff to get an update on that.”

Based on Charania’s reporting, it sounds like the prognosis for Gordon is worse than Malone had hoped. The veteran forward is the second Nuggets starter to go down with an injury in the early going of the season — point guard Jamal Murray has missed the past two games while in the concussion protocol.

A key connecting piece for the Nuggets on both end of the floor, Gordon was averaging 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 34.7 minutes per game, with an excellent shooting line of .529/.550/.846, entering Monday’s game. The team has posted a +10.3 net rating when he’s on the court, compared to a -14.0 mark when he’s not.

The 29-year-old signed a long-term extension with Denver prior to the start of the season and is now under contract through at least 2028 (he holds a player option for ’28/29).

Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, and Zeke Nnaji all established new personal season highs in minutes played on Monday and are among the top candidates for increased playing time for as long as Gordon remains unavailable. Second-year forward Hunter Tyson will also be in that mix.