In a recent matchup against the Timberwolves on Saturday, Aaron Gordon had just thrown down a dunk after Nikola Jokic sent him a long outlet pass. But as he was getting back on defense in the third quarter, he suddenly reached for his leg and let out a frustrated curse. No sub request, though—he powered through.

Gordon has always been a key player for the Denver Nuggets, but this season has been tough for him, with injuries sidelining him for 21 games. Despite that, he’s pushed through, showing some serious grit on the court. Denver is looking to bounce back after a tough 133-104 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, which kicked off their five-game road trip.

Their next stop? The struggling Chicago Bulls on Monday, offering a good chance to regroup.

And Gordon looks all set to be 100% for this matchup. After the Timberwolves game, Gordon shared some positive news about his injury, revealing that he no longer feels the calf strain. “I’m ready,” he said. “I don’t feel my calf anymore. Yeah. I’m ready.” Even better, Gordon isn’t listed on the Nuggets’ injury report for tomorrow’s game against the Bulls, the team announced on X. This is great news for ‘Mr. Nugget’ fans, as it means he’s all set to return to action.

Over his last three games coming off the bench, he’s been averaging 11.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. Let us take a look at the Nuggets’ injury report and depth chart for the Bulls matchup.

Will the Nuggets bounce back with a healthy Aaron Gordon?

Denver’s two-way player, Spencer Jones, missed Wednesday’s G League showdown between the Grand Rapids Gold and the College Park Skyhawks due to a right-hand injury. The Gold still pulled off a 113-106 win, but Jones wasn’t on the court. According to Rotowire, he’s expected back on January 29th, so don’t expect to see him suit up against the Bulls.

In other injury news, Vlatko Cancar is still on the mend. On December 4th, the Nuggets announced that doctors had performed arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and planned to re-evaluate him in eight weeks. If that wasn’t enough, this is Cancar’s second major knee surgery in less than two years—he had ACL repair surgery in August 2023. Unfortunately, he has played in only four games this season before experiencing this latest setback. Safe to say he won’t be suiting up for the Bulls match as well.

Meanwhile, DaRon Holmes II had an even rougher break during his Summer League debut with the Nuggets. He tore his right Achilles tendon, a brutal injury that’ll keep him out for the entire 2024-25 season. Recovering from that kind of surgery isn’t just physical—it’s a mental grind, too.

The Bulls are struggling, having dropped eight of their last 10 games, and turnovers have been a huge issue. Just in Saturday’s loss to the Sixers, where 20 turnovers erased a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. They’re hoping to bounce back on Monday against the Nuggets, the first meeting of these teams this season, with a rematch set for March 24 in Denver.

Denver’s owned this matchup lately, winning seven of the last 10 clashes, including two last season. Nikola Jokic nearly posted a triple-double in their first meeting last year, while Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic have been consistent against the Nuggets.

Can Chicago stop the bleeding, or will Denver’s dominance continue? Either way, this one feels like it’s got some drama brewing.