Game 1? Oh, it had everything—comebacks, clutch shots, overtime, and all the playoff drama you could ask for. The Clippers jumped out to an early lead, and for a second, it felt like Ty Lue’s squad might actually steal one in Denver. But then, the Nuggets remembered who they are and where they are, wiped away an eight-point deficit, and snatched a 112-110 win in OT. And guess who stepped up like a guy who’s tired of hearing the “just a dunker” jokes?

Aaron Gordon. With 25 points, 8 boards, and a whole lot of  “yeah, I’m still that guy” swagger, he was everywhere—cutting, rebounding, and dunking through traffic. He made the Clippers’ forwards look like they were playing two speeds behind. And if you’ve been keeping track of Gordon’s last 10 games, this performance wasn’t a fluke. He’s been putting up 17.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4 assists, silently holding down the fort while Jokic and Murray dominate the headlines. But now, the question is: Can Gordon keep that momentum rolling?

Aaron Gordon: To Play or Not to Play—That’s the Question

Heading into Game 2, the Nuggets are dealing with a little “will-he, won’t-he” drama—Aaron Gordon’s calf is acting up. He’s “probable,” which, let’s be real, is NBA code for “he’s playing unless something wild happens in warm-ups.” But honestly, you know they’re not sitting AG unless his leg falls off. The man is way too important for that.

Gordon’s got that Swiss-army knife vibe—guarding everything from small forwards to bigs, cutting like he’s on a fast track, and handling business in the paint. In Game 1, Westbrook went full 2017 vintage, making plays that had you wondering if he could pull a time-travel stunt. If Gordon isn’t out there to hassle Kawhi and make Zubac wish he were anywhere but the paint, things could get ugly real quick. Jokic can’t play 48 minutes of superhero ball—he’s just one guy, not a whole team (even if it sometimes looks like he is pulling up with a squad of minions).

Bottom line: Unless something bananas happens in the pregame warm-up, Gordon’s probably good to go. But if that calf doesn’t cooperate? Denver’s got zero margin for error, and that could spell trouble real fast.

Can This Nuggets Core Keep Rolling in Game 2 vs Clippers Without a Full Tank?

Game 1 was a rollercoaster of momentum swings, and Denver barely hung on to get the W, with Westbrook almost playing spoiler in the final seconds. Heading into Game 2, the Nuggets have to figure out how to sustain this grind without burning themselves out. It’ll take more than Jokic to prevent the Clippers from flipping the script. Let’s break down who’s stepping up for the Nuggets—and where they’ll need more than just scoring to keep the Clippers in check.

First off, Nikola Jokic. The dude’s out here averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, like it’s a daily walk in the park. His triple-doubles? Yeah, they’re basically a stat sheet flex, and when he’s dialed in like he was in Game 1, it’s over before it even starts.

Jamal Murray’s right there too, dropping 21.4 points and 6 assists. He can explode at any moment, like flipping a switch. If he gets hot? Bye-bye, Clippers, the game’s over.

Then there’s Michael Porter Jr., aka the sniper. He’s been hitting 50.4% from the field and dropping 18.2 points like it’s nothing. The guy’s got size, he’s got range, and if AG is in street clothes, MPJ’s gonna have to step it up even more. Don’t sleep on him.

Now, Christian Braun—this kid came out of nowhere, shooting 58% and dropping 15.4 points. No biggie. He’s been solid in high-pressure moments, and his defense? Clutch. The Nuggets need him to stay locked in, especially if things get tight.

And, of course, we’ve got Russell Westbrook. 13.3 points, 6.1 assists—but we all know Russ is like a rollercoaster. He can play like a beast one minute, and then… well, you never know. He’s the definition of a wildcard. If Denver doesn’t clamp down on him, he’ll turn the game into his personal highlight reel. Braun and Gordon are gonna need to stay on their toes. If they do, Denver might just be up 2-0 before the Clippers even realize what hit them.

If Denver’s legs hold up, they’ve got the firepower, the system, and the rhythm to go up 2-0. But don’t completely skip the Clippers—they’ve been trending up and they’ve got the shot-makers. It all depends on whether Denver’s top 7 can hold off a deeper L.A. punch or if we start to see those thin margins catch up.

And hey, if AG’s calf keeps acting up, Jokic might be running out of gas before we even hit Game 3.