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Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon Had Words for Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated May 18, 2025 9:24 PM ET

The Denver Nuggets' quest for a second NBA championship ended in disappointment as they fell 125-93 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 35 points (12-of-19 FG), while Jalen Williams added 24, propelling Oklahoma City to the Western Conference Finals.

The Thunder's defense came up huge on Sunday, forcing 23 turnovers and converting them into 37 points. Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets' star center, was limited to 20 points, struggling against Oklahoma City's top-ranked defense.

Despite a Grade 2 hamstring strain sustained in Game 6, Aaron Gordon started Game 7, contributing eight points and 11 rebounds.

Postgame, Gordon expressed concerns about the NBA's playoff scheduling:

"I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day. The product of the game would be a lot better. You'll see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts."

He further highlighted the impact on players' health:

"You saw it around the league like Steph with the hamstring, JT, Dame. There's guys all around the league that are just like suffering fatigue-based injuries because the games are so closely stacked together. A lot of the times, it's the team that's most healthy."

"You saw it around the league like Steph with the hamstring, JT, Dame. There's guys all around the league that are just like suffering fatigue based injuries because the games are so closely stacked together. A lot of the times, it's the team that's most healthy" - AG https://t.co/gwaUTcgiCA pic.twitter.com/h57kBjBrN4
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 18, 2025

Stephen Curry missed four consecutive games in the second round due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, contributing to the Warriors' elimination by the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the Celtics' series against the Knicks, sidelining him for Game 5 and 6.

Gordon's remarks echoes growing concerns about player health during the grueling playoff schedule, as pressure continues to mount on the league to reassess its scheduling and prioritize player well-being.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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