The Denver Nuggets pulled off a crucial Game 5 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves to stave off elimination, but the win came at a cost as they continue to navigate significant injury concerns on the wing.
Aaron Gordon, one of Denver’s most important two-way forwards and arguably their premier defender, sat out the Game 5 win with a calf strain that has worsened over the course of the first-round series. While the Nuggets now have a chance to extend the series in Game 6 on the road, the latest updates suggest they will once again be without their versatile forward.
Gordon has appeared in just three of the five games played so far in the series. He missed Game 3 entirely, was limited in Game 4 (playing through discomfort before exiting for stretches), and was officially ruled out for Game 5 after being listed as questionable. His absence has been felt on both ends of the floor, particularly in terms of defensive versatility and athleticism around the rim.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the situation remains concerning heading into Game 6. “It’s a pretty bad calf strain that Aaron Gordon is dealing with,” Charania reported on ESPN’s Get Up. “The Nuggets sat him out of Game 5. I’m told they are preparing to be without him for Game 6. And a lot of it is protecting him from himself… Aaron Gordon, I think (the Nuggets’) preparation, is for him to be out.”
Gordon has a well-documented history of playing through leg injuries, including during last year’s playoffs, but the organization appears determined not to risk a more serious setback at this stage. Nuggets head coach David Adelman echoed the uncertainty after Game 5, stating he had “no idea” whether Gordon would be available for the next matchup.
Adding to Denver’s challenges is the continued absence of breakout wing Peyton Watson, who has missed the entire series—and the past four weeks—with a hamstring strain. Watson enjoyed a strong regular season, posting career highs of 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 49.1% shooting, providing valuable spacing, defense, and secondary scoring. Like Gordon, his return timeline remains unclear.
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Post-Game 5, Adelman reiterated that the team would prepare as if both wings remain sidelined for Thursday night’s contest in Minnesota, despite the extra day of rest between games. Insider Anthony Slater noted: “Nuggets coach David Adelman said he has ‘no idea’ if either Aaron Gordon or Peyton Watson can get back in time for Game 6 on Thursday night… He said Denver will prepare as if both wings remain out.”
The Nuggets’ depth has been tested heavily in this series. Nikola Jokić delivered a strong performance in Game 5 to help secure the victory and keep Denver’s season alive, but replacing the combined defensive impact, athleticism, and floor-spacing of Gordon and Watson on the road against a Timberwolves team fighting to close out the series will be no easy task.
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, with tip-off time to be confirmed. For the Nuggets to force a Game 7 and complete a comeback from a 3-1 deficit, they will need continued heroic efforts from their stars and opportunistic contributions from the supporting cast—while hoping for any positive news on the injury front.
As it stands, however, the official word is sobering: Denver must brace for another game without two of its key wings, making every possession in Minnesota that much more critical.