Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon out at least a month with strained right hamstring

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without forward Aaron Gordon for at least a month after he reinjured his right hamstring last week at Milwaukee.

The team said Thursday before hosting Brooklyn that Gordon will be evaluated again in 4 to 6 weeks. Gordon is averaging 17.7 points and 6.2 rebounds this season.

“I’m more concerned about Aaron as a person, and trying to get him in the right headspace to complete this short journey again that he just went through,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “It’s just been one of those years. It’s been a crazy year.”

Gordon missed 19 games earlier this season with a strained left hamstring. The Nuggets also are without center Nikola Jokic (left knee), forward Cameron Johnson (right knee) and forward Christian Braun (left ankle).

Jokic, a three-time MVP, led the NBA in rebounding (12.2) and assists (11.0) and was the team's leading scorer at 29.6 points per game when he was injured at Miami on Dec. 29. Denver has struggled in the past with Jokic sidelined, but it is 9-6 since he suffered his hyperextended knee.

Adelman said Jokic, Johnson and Braun have a chance to return in the next two weeks.

“The hope and the aspirations of our group is that they will play before the All-Star break — outside of Aaron. Will that come to fruition? I have no idea,” he said. “And if they do come back, it’ll be with limits what they can do, so we'll have to balance that as well. But the sooner the better.”

The 30-year-old Gordon was acquired by Denver in a trade with Orlando in March 2021. He was an integral piece when the Nuggets won the 2023 NBA title.

“We know he’ll be back before the end of the season, and he’ll get back to being who he is,” Adelman said. “Just an unfortunate thing in a season of many unfortunate things.”

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Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

SEATTLE (AP) — All Vinnie Pasquantino needed was a few days of rest, a morning walk around Seattle and a warm, sunny day at T-Mobile Park to get back on track for the Kansas City Royals.

Pasquantino had two hits — including a solo homer — two RBIs and two runs in his return to Kansas City’s lineup against the Seattle Mariners after sitting out the previous two games because of lower back tightness. He batted third and played first base in the Royals' 7-6 win.

“I told them yesterday, I want in,” Pasquantino said. “And I’ll let them know if anything changes.”

His single to right field drove in Kansas City’s opening run in the first inning. He then belted his fourth home run of the season in the sixth off Bryan Woo on a 2-0 count, a Statcast-projected 404-foot blast into the second deck in right. It gave the Royals a 5-3 lead before Jac Caglianone followed with a solo home run to right.

Pasquantino said it has been an issue he has dealt with for a while after he was removed in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game. He also appeared in the ninth inning and hit a game-ending flyout in Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Athletics.

“We hope that he’s not going to have to deal with it the whole season,” manager Matt Quatraro said before Friday’s game. “But he’ll probably feel it for a handful of days before it resolves.”

But it felt good in Friday’s win.

“We’ll see how it feels in about an hour when all the adrenaline comes down,” Pasquantino said.

Pasquantino, 28, is off to a slow start this season for Kansas City, batting .176 with three doubles, 16 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 30 games.

Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits an RBI single to score Maikel Garcia against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)