Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon to start despite tense left hamstring

Oklahoma City (AP) -Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will start on Sunday in Game 7 of the Western Conference semi -finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite having a tense left hand string. Denver interim coach David Adelman said he would be a decision over time, but the nuggets upgraded him to available less than an hour before the start. “He’s trying to play,” Adelman said during his first name media session. “It is clear that he was injured, but he will go through the process, see if he can give us something. If he can’t go, or he can go and he can’t go on, we have a lot of guys who can act. ‘ The injury appears to have occurred late in Game 6 when the thunderstorm Alex Caruso slid under him as he struggled to a loose ball. Gordon slept and massaged the hamstring after the play. Gordon helped the Nuggets win their only NBA Championship in 2023. In this series, he scored an average of 14.5 points and 9.2 rebounds, while shooting 45% of the 3-point series. He hit the 3-pointer in Game 1, a 121-119 win that gave the Nuggets Homecourt benefit temporarily. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said the thunder was prepared anyway. “It’s game 7,” he said. “Anything can happen. Anyone can act. We need to be ready for their best punch. We are. We know that they are going to throw their best punch to begin with. ‘ Gordon played just 51 games in the regular season, while handling a tense right calf and stunning the left ankle. The winner is progressing to the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. ___