Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun Return to a Desperate Denver Nuggets Squad Amid Injury Crisis

On January 4, 2026, the Denver Nuggets finally received a glimmer of good news amid a brutal injury stretch: starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returned to the lineup for their road game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Both players had been sidelined since November—Gordon missing 19 games with a strained right hamstring suffered on November 21 against Houston, and Braun absent for 23 games after spraining his left ankle on November 12 versus the Clippers. Their returns came at a critical juncture, as the Nuggets were reeling from the loss of three-time MVP Nikola Jokić, who hyperextended his left knee on December 29 in Miami and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

Interim head coach David Adelman, filling in during this chaotic period, expressed relief pregame: “We’ve had a good 48 hours, those two guys. Thank God. We could use the bodies.” The Nuggets, sitting at 23-11 and holding third in the Western Conference, had gone 1-1 without Jokić heading into Brooklyn, but the absence of their superstar center—along with backup Jonas Valančiūnas (right calf strain, out at least a month)—left them desperately thin in the frontcourt.

Unfortunately for Denver, the reinforcements weren’t enough to overcome a motivated Nets team led by former Nugget Michael Porter Jr. Brooklyn cruised to a 127-115 victory, improving to 11-22 and snapping a three-game skid. Gordon and Braun, both on minutes restrictions in their first action back, showed flashes but couldn’t prevent the Nuggets from dropping to 23-12 and falling to 1-2 without Jokić.

The Injury Timeline: A Nightmare Stretch for Denver

The Nuggets entered the 2025-26 season relatively healthy, riding Jokić’s historic dominance to a strong start. But November brought the first cracks: Braun went down early in a win over the Clippers, followed quickly by Gordon’s hamstring issue just minutes into a game in Houston. Suddenly, Denver was without two key starters known for their athleticism, defense, and cutting ability—roles that perfectly complement Jokić’s playmaking.

Peyton Watson and rookies like Spencer Jones stepped up admirably in their absences, but the real crisis hit late December. Jokić’s knee hyperextension in Miami not only sidelined the league’s leading MVP candidate but exposed Denver’s lack of interior depth. Valančiūnas, acquired to bolster the bench, lasted just one start before his calf gave out in a win over Toronto.

By January 4, the Nuggets were playing without four regulars, forcing small-ball lineups and heavy minutes on Jamal Murray. Adelman praised the team’s effort in prior games—a gritty win in Toronto and a competitive loss in Cleveland—but emphasized the need for bodies: “We needed healthy players desperately.”

Gordon and Braun’s upgrades from questionable to available came after positive warmups, offering hope. Yet, with a back-to-back looming in Philadelphia the next day, restrictions were inevitable.

Performances in Return: Rust, Restrictions, and Flashes of Promise

Aaron Gordon, coming off the bench for the first time in years, played 21 minutes and delivered an efficient 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, plus six rebounds. His physicality was evident in bursts—highlight-reel dunks and tough finishes around the rim reminded fans why he’s one of the league’s premier athletes. Gordon attacked mismatches relentlessly, drawing fouls and providing the energy Denver lacked inside without Jokić.

However, rust showed: limited minutes meant he couldn’t fully impose his will defensively, and Brooklyn’s balanced attack exploited Denver’s frontcourt vulnerabilities. Postgame, Gordon admitted to feeling “out of rhythm” but was encouraged: “It felt good to be back out there competing with the guys.”

Christian Braun, inserted into the starting lineup, logged 24 minutes but struggled offensively, finishing with just 3-4 points and two rebounds. The third-year wing, who averaged solid numbers pre-injury, looked tentative—missing open looks and hesitating on drives. Defensively, he contributed quietly, but his absence of impact highlighted the layoff’s toll.

Analysts noted Braun’s minutes were higher than Gordon’s due to positional needs, but he admitted postgame: “It’s been a long time. Legs felt heavy, but glad to shake off the rust.” His return bolsters Denver’s perimeter defense and transition play, areas that suffered without him.

Jamal Murray carried the offense with 27 points and a career-high 16 assists, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 26 off the bench. But without Jokić’s gravity, Murray faced constant doubles, and Denver’s rebounding woes persisted (outrebounded 44-33).

Game Context: Why the Returns Couldn’t Spark a Win

Brooklyn entered hungry, with Michael Porter Jr.—traded from Denver in the offseason for Cam Johnson—returning from a two-game illness. Porter dominated with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, admitting the matchup was “circled on my calendar” since the trade. The Nets’ depth shone: six players in double figures, including 22 from Noah Clowney and 17 each from Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe (starting for an absent Nic Claxton).

Denver led briefly early but trailed for most of the contest, with Brooklyn building leads up to 22. The third quarter proved decisive, as the Nets shot lights-out and capitalized on transition. Adelman’s squad showed fight—trimming deficits multiple times—but lacked the size and firepower to close.

The loss underscored a harsh reality: even with Gordon and Braun back, surviving without Jokić requires near-perfect execution. Denver’s offense ranked top-tier with their MVP but dropped sharply in his absence.

Broader Implications: Hope Amid Adversity

Gordon and Braun’s returns signal better days ahead. Gordon, in a career-best offensive season pre-injury (around 18-19 PPG on elite efficiency), provides lob threats, cutting, and versatility. Braun brings hustle, defense, and secondary creation—vital for a Jokić-less lineup.

As the seven-game road trip continues (Philadelphia next, then Boston), managing minutes will be key. Adelman likely rests one or both on the back-to-back to avoid setbacks. Long-term, their health stabilizes a contender eyeing another title run post-Jokić’s return (potentially late January).

For the players, the comebacks represent resilience. Gordon, plagued by soft-tissue issues in recent years, and Braun, establishing himself as a starter, both battled through rehab. Their presence eases Murray’s burden and allows Watson to return to a bench role.

Player Profiles: Why Gordon and Braun Are Irreplaceable

Aaron Gordon: The athletic forward has evolved into Denver’s Swiss Army knife since joining in 2021. His playoff heroics in the 2023 championship run—dunks, defense on stars like LeBron—are legendary. This season, he posted career highs in scoring and three-point shooting before injury. His return restores lob finishing and switchability.

Christian Braun: The 2022 first-rounder from Kansas burst onto the scene as a rookie contributor in the title run. Known for relentless defense and timely cuts, Braun started all games pre-injury, averaging double figures. His energy embodies Denver’s culture.

Looking Ahead: Surviving January and Beyond

The Nuggets face a gauntlet: Philadelphia (back-to-back), then Boston to end the trip. Jokić’s positive recovery updates—he’s reportedly moving well—offer optimism, but caution prevails.

Depth additions like Hardaway have helped, but interior size remains a concern until Valančiūnas returns. If Gordon and Braun ramp up quickly, Denver can tread water in the stacked West.

Ultimately, January 4 marked a step forward: two key pieces back, injecting athleticism and depth. The loss stung, especially to Porter’s Nets, but health is trending up. For a team built around Jokić, getting supporting cast healthy is the lifeline needed to weather this storm.

As Adelman said: “It’s cool to see progress.” With Gordon slamming dunks and Braun hustling again, Nuggets fans can exhale—just a bit.