Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic drops concerning Aaron Gordon injury claim after Game 3

The Denver Nuggets were already playing shorthanded to start things off in their 2026 NBA playoffs first-round clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Peyton Watson remaining on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury. But on Thursday, things went from bad to worse for the Nuggets, as Aaron Gordon had to miss Game 3 due to a calf injury. Suffice to say, the Nuggets missed him dearly, as they were on the receiving end of a 113-96 beatdown to fall behind 2-1 in the series.

Gordon has endured his fair share of lower-body injury problems this season, suiting up in just 36 games in the regular season. The hope was that he would be fully healthy for the playoffs, but this doesn’t appear to be the case at all. In fact, Nuggets star Nikola Jokic said in his postgame presser that he knew as early as a couple days ago that Gordon wasn’t going to play in Game 3, as reported by Vinny Benedetto of Denver Gazette.

As one would recall, Gordon suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that left his status for the Nuggets’ Game 7 clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder in last year’s playoffs in considerable doubt. Gordon ended up fighting through the pain, suiting up to play 24 minutes of their 32-point defeat against OKC on the road.

It is easy to think that perhaps this decision of Gordon’s to power through the pain has cost him dearly. He’s endured hamstring and calf injuries earlier this season, and with soft-tissue injuries being of lingering nature, perhaps the Nuggets forward is still paying the price for last year’s choice.

Nonetheless, there’s no use in crying over spilled milk at this point. All the Nuggets must do is try and get Gordon healthy for next game, as they do not want to go down 3-1 in their first-round matchup against the Timberwolves.

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