Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon Out for Thursday's Game Against Cleveland Cavaliers

The Denver Nuggets will be without their key forward for at least another game. According to the NBA Injury Report, Aaron Gordon has been declared out for Thursday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a rib injury.

A simple rhyme is helping Aaron Gordon stay patient while his rib injury continues to recover. From: @VBenedetto https://t.co/s4MbiaPCSP
— The Denver Gazette (@DenverGazette) February 22, 2023

Gordon missed the Nuggets' last three games heading into the All-Star break but has appeared in a respectable 49 of 59 possible games this season. He's averaging 17.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game with a career-high .645 true shooting percentage this season.

The Nuggets sport a Western Conference-best 41-18 record and are a commanding 5.0 games ahead of the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Despite a relatively quiet trade deadline, they remain a powerhouse and title contender thanks to another MVP-worthy season from Nikola Jokic (24.7 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 10.1 apg, .703 TS%). If they're going to win their first title in franchise history, they'll have to hold off potential Western Conference juggernauts the Phoenix Suns, who recently acquired Kevin Durant, and the Dallas Mavericks, who snatched Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline.

Following Thursday's matchup against the Cavs, Gordon's next chance to make his return to action will be against the Grizzlies on Saturday night.