Dealing with what was reported as a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, Gordon shocked many by playing in Sunday’s game. Give him credit for attempting to play through the injury, and early on, it appeared as if the Thunder weren’t willing to test Gordon’s health thoroughly. While effective as a rebounder, the Nuggets forward could not provide much else in his 25 minutes on the court. The defeat gives Gordon time to recover from his hamstring injury, and he should be good to go when training camp opens in September. Gordon has primarily been a late-round player in Denver, and that’s unlikely to change in 2025-26, even with his improvement as a perimeter shooter this season.

Gordon will surprisingly take the court after being diagnosed with an injury that should have kept him out for multiple weeks. How many minutes he plays and how he looks will be things to keep an eye on throughout the winner-take-all contest.

According to Shams, Gordon will need several weeks to recover from the injury. He’s been looking for ways to play on Sunday, “but it is becoming physically improbable to do so.” Gordon hasn’t officially been ruled out, but there’s little chance he takes the court, which is a devastating blow for Denver. Gordon has averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 boards in the 2025 postseason, and his production will likely be picked up by a committee of Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson.

Gordon is said to be a true game-time decision after he injured his left hamstring in Game 6. His availability appears to be in doubt, though the Nuggets hope he will play. Tyson has missed the last three games with an ankle injury. He wasn’t part of the Nuggets’ rotation, but could see some minutes if he’s healthy and Gordon is out. Russell Westbrook, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson will all have added importance if Gordon is unavailable.