The Domino Effect: Gordon’s Injury Timeline Extends the Nuggets’ Defensive Crisis

The Denver Nuggets, currently riding a franchise-record road winning streak, have received a critical and demoralizing update on the status of starting forward Aaron Gordon, which casts a long shadow over their ability to maintain their elite status through the holiday season.

Head Coach David Adelman confirmed this week that Gordon, who has been sidelined since November 22, 2025, with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, is not expected to return until after Christmas Day.

This news represents a crushing setback for the defending champions, as it pushes Gordon’s recovery beyond the original optimistic four-week re-evaluation mark and further extends an already challenging period of attrition. The absence of Gordon, combined with another key injury, is creating a domino effect that is stress-testing the Nuggets’ depth, flexibility, and championship foundation.

The Double-Barrel Blow: A Crisis of Wings

The severity of Gordon’s extended absence is amplified by the fact that the Nuggets are simultaneously without another essential two-way wing, Christian Braun, who is out with a left ankle sprain and is also expected to miss time until closer to the new calendar year.

The tandem loss of Gordon and Braun—arguably the team’s two most versatile and reliable perimeter defenders—has created a full-blown crisis at the wing position:

• Defensive Erosion: Gordon is the Nuggets’ primary Point-of-Attack defender and the key enforcer responsible for guarding the opponent’s best perimeter scorer (LeBron James, Luka Dončić, etc.). Without him and the defensive intensity of Braun, the team’s defensive rating has suffered, making them vulnerable in ways they were not during last season’s championship run.

• Offensive Flow Disruption: Gordon was enjoying the most efficient start to his career, averaging 18.8 points while shooting a career-best 44.4% from three. His interior scoring and ability to create on back-cuts provided crucial gravity that Nikola Jokic exploits. Losing that consistent secondary scoring means more pressure on Jamal Murray to be perfect every night.

• Rotational Stress: The absences have forced Head Coach Adelman to rely heavily on unproven or inconsistent options, namely rookie Julian Strawther (who is also dealing with a lower back injury) and two-way player Spencer Jones. While Jones has stepped up admirably, asking him and young players like Peyton Watson to shoulder 40+ minutes of combined wing responsibility against the league’s elite is a recipe for volatility.

The Lingering Concern: Soft Tissue History

The extended timeline for Gordon’s return is particularly alarming given his recent history of soft tissue injuries:

• 2024 Playoffs: Gordon famously suffered a left hamstring strain during the 2024 playoffs, forcing him to play through pain in the team’s final games.

• The Current Issue: The current injury—a Grade 2 strain in his right hamstring—marks the second major hamstring issue in less than a year, separate from the calf strain he dealt with in the previous season.

This pattern suggests a structural fragility that the Nuggets must treat with extreme caution. Rushing him back before Christmas—even if the initial four-week window suggested it—would risk a catastrophic re-injury that could derail the entire season. The caution being displayed by Coach Adelman and the front office confirms they are prioritizing Gordon’s long-term health and playoff viability over regular-season wins.

The Next Man Up: The Spencer Jones Imperative

The silver lining in this brutal injury news is the undeniable emergence of two-way player Spencer Jones. His promotion from the G League affiliate to the starting lineup in Gordon’s absence has provided the Nuggets with unexpected stability.

• Necessity of Promotion: The extended absences of Gordon and Braun make the case for converting Jones’s two-way contract to a standard 15-man roster spot a matter of operational necessity. As a two-way player, Jones is limited to 50 active roster appearances and is ineligible for the playoffs. Delaying his promotion means losing him right when the team needs him most to cover the gap until Gordon and Braun return.

• Mitigation of Loss: Jones has provided the required 3-and-D qualities, hitting open threes and using his length defensively. Securing him now is the most logical, low-cost move the front office can make to ensure they have enough healthy, reliable wings to survive the difficult stretch through the New Year.

The Nuggets are an elite team with an all-time great centerpiece, but their championship resilience is now being tested by the relentless grind of the NBA schedule and the fragility of their defensive core. They must weather this six-to-eight-week storm to ensure they are healthy and whole for the playoff push.