The Denver Nuggets have been plagued by injuries this season, with four of their five starters now on the sidelines after Nikola Jokic went down on Monday night. But before Jokic suffered a knee injury against the Miami Heat, the Nuggets shared an optimistic return timeline for Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon.
Speaking to reporters before the Nuggets-Heat game, coach David Adelman was asked about the progress of Braun and Gordon’s recovery. Adelman revealed that both players could be making their return in the latter part of Denver’s current seven-game road trip.
“Hoping at the back end of this road trip, we see them,” Adelman said, via Katy Winge of Altitude TV.
Braun has been out since suffering a sprained ankle on November 12 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon, on the other hand, has been dealing with a hamstring strain since November 21, when he fell hard after driving to the basket against the Houston Rockets.
In addition to Braun and Gordon, the Nuggets are also dealing with injuries to Cameron Johnson and Nikola Jokic. Johnson suffered a right knee contusion on December 23 in the Nuggets’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks, while Jokic’s left knee buckled on Monday night after teammate Spencer Jones stepped on his foot.
Possible Return Date for Braun and Gordon
As mentioned by coach David Adelman, the Denver Nuggets could have Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon back in the lineup toward the end of their seven-game road trip. The Nuggets have only played two games, which were both losses against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat.
Denver’s next game is on New Year’s Eve against the Toronto Raptors. They then start 2026 with a four-game schedule, facing the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics before returning home to the Ball Arena on January 9 to welcome the Atlanta Hawks.
ESPN has temporarily put Braun and Gordon’s return date on January 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it should be noted that this could change depending on how both players respond to ramping up their activities during rehab and conditioning workouts.
Braun has a more positive outlook since he has already been seen in shootaround over the past few games.
Nuggets Waiting Patiently on Jokic’s MRI Results
Nikola Jokic has been the beating heart that keeps the Denver Nuggets alive since he turned into a superstar. Jokic suffered a knee injury on Monday, late in the second quarter of their game against the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center.
“The Joker” was able to work under his own power, but he grabbed his left knee and appeared to be in pain when the injury happened, as reported by ESPN. The Nuggets and their fanbase are waiting patiently and anxiously for Jokic’s diagnosis. He’s set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, though there seems to be some positive news from Serbia.
According to Dorde Matic of Serbian outlet Meridian Sport, sources close to the three-time NBA MVP are feeling positive about his left knee injury. The belief is that Jokic suffered a hyperextension, though Matic encouraged people to wait for an official announcement.
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