Nuggets coach Michael Malone: No timeline on Aaron Gordon’s return from rib injury - The Denver Post

The Nuggets can't officially find their playoff stride until starting forward Aaron Gordon returns, but when that happens is anyone's guess.

Gordon missed his fifth game in a row on Saturday due to a rib contusion and was listed as out for Sunday's back-to-back at home against the Clippers on the team's early injury report.

"Honestly, I have no idea (when he'll return)," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said late Saturday night following their blowout loss to the Grizzlies. Gordon wasn't on Denver's two-game road trip to Cleveland and then to Memphis. Instead, he opted to stay back and rehab.

"If not (Sunday), hopefully (vs.) Houston, and we'll just keep on giving him enough time to get back to where he's comfortable and confident to go out there and play and play effectively," Malone said.

Though it's not a fracture, according to a league source, it's been extremely troublesome nonetheless.

"Obviously, he's a big part of what we've been able to do this year on both ends of the floor," Malone said. "His ability to guard, his ability to rebound, and his ability to play with Nikola (Jokic), and the athleticism that he provides is something that is hard to replicate."

Gordon last played on Feb. 9 at Orlando before resting throughout the All-Star break and missing Denver's next six games. In his absence, reserve forward Vlatko Cancar has earned the starts, and though he's played fairly well, he doesn't have nearly the burst or impact that Gordon's had.

Offensively, Gordon's an integral part of Denver's elite attack, and defensively, he's a strong, switchable piece that can guard the likes of players like Donovan Mitchell and Ja Morant, not to mention Sunday's foes, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Against Cleveland, the Nuggets survived despite giving up 68 points in the paint. Two nights later, the Grizzlies pounded Denver behind 60 points in the paint.

Gordon said recently it was improving, though he was being cautious out of fear of playing and hurting it further.

Heading into Sunday evening, Denver had just 21 games remaining in the regular season.

Want more Nuggets news? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.