DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets power forward Aaron Gordon is expected to miss multiple weeks with a strained right calf, two people familiar with the injury told The Associated Press.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the extent of the injury hasn’t been announced. Gordon left Monday’s win over Toronto in the first quarter and didn't return.
His absence is a blow for a team that’s been without guard Jamal Murray (concussion protocol) for the last two games.
Gordon is averaging 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds this season while playing 30 minutes a night.
The 29-year-old Gordon signed a four-year, $133 million contract extension just before the start of the season. He was an integral piece when the franchise captured its first NBA championship in 2022-23.
Gordon was originally drafted by Orlando with the fourth overall pick in 2014. He was traded to the Nuggets in March 2021 and has become a fan favorite with his play around the rim and his energizing dunks.
Before the season, Gordon switched jersey numbers to No. 32 in honor his brother, Drew, who died last spring in an auto accident in Oregon.
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Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) goes up for a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) celebrates next to Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) after making a 3-point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, collects the ball as Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji, right, and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, pursue in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
European heavyweights Real Madrid and Manchester City both suffered big defeats in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Defending champion Madrid was humbled 3-1 at home by AC Milan, while Erling Haaland missed a penalty and City squandered a fourth-minute lead as it lost 4-1 at Sporting Lisbon, whose coach will soon take charge of its crosstown rival.
It was a much better evening for Liverpool, as Luis Diaz scored a hat trick and Cody Gakpo grabbed another goal in a 4-0 win over German champion Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield that marred Xabi Alonso’s return to his old home.
The Leverkusen coach was given a warm welcome on his return to the club where he became a fan favorite as a player over five seasons between 2004-09. Alonso won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.
Before their game, Sporting fans displayed a huge tifo thanking Rúben Amorim in his last home game before he takes over Manchester United.
Phil Foden then got City off to a flying start in the fourth minute, only the second goal Sporting has conceded in four games of the competition.
But Swedish forward Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat trick as Sporting came roaring back. Gyökeres first equalized in the 38th after a perfect through ball from Geovany Quenda, before Maximiliano Araújo made it 2-1 right after the break. made it 3-1 in the 49th from the penalty spot after Joško Gvardiol was penalized for a shove on Francisco Trincão in the area.
Haaland’s penalty hit the crossbar, before Gyökeres showed the Norwegian how it’s done with another spot kick at the other end to complete the scoring.
In Madrid, Christian Pulisic sent in a corner for Malick Thiaw to head Milan into a 12th-minute lead, ensuring Madrid trailed in a third straight game in the Champions League this season.
Vinícius Júnior equalized from the penalty spot in the 23rd after he’d been tripped, but Álvaro Morata pounced on the rebound after Andriy Lunin saved Rafael Leão’s shot to restore the visitors’ lead against his former club.
Morata had already been given a hostile reception from the home fans, who evidently remember the goal he scored to take Juventus through to the 2015 final at their team’s expense.
Tijjani Reijnders scored Milan’s third goal as the home fans made their frustrations known at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Also, German forward Nicolas Kühn scored twice as Celtic defeated Leipzig 3-1 at home, and Juventus drew 1-1 at Lille.
Lille midfielder Edon Zhegrova eluded two defenders before playing a perfect pass for Jonathan David, who fired inside the far post, but Dušan Vlahović equalized with a penalty for the Italian club.
Donyell Malen scored late for Borussia Dortmund to beat Sturm Graz 1-0 at home, and Thilo Kehrer did likewise for Monaco to win at Bologna 1-0.
United States midfielder Malik Tillman scored one goal and set up another as PSV Eindhoven beat Spanish team Girona 4-0.
Dinamo Zagreb dealt Slovan Bratislava its fourth straight defeat in the competition as the visitors came from behind to win 4-1 in Bratislava.
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Sporting players celebrate after a goal during the UEFA Champions League opening phase match between Sporting and Manchester City in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after missing a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League opening phase match between Sporting and Manchester City in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Sporting players toss coach Ruben Amorim during the UEFA Champions League opening phase match between Sporting and Manchester City in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Sporting's head coach Ruben Amorim leaves the pitch after the UEFA Champions League opening phase match between Sporting and Manchester City in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, right, and AC Milan's Yunus Musah battle for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, front, and AC Milan's Emerson Royal battle for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, right, celebrates after scoring his side's 3rd goal against Real Madrid during the Champions League opening phase soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's 3rd goal against Real Madrid during the Champions League opening phase soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
AC Milan's Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Real Madrid during the Champions League opening phase soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
PSV's Malik Tillman, left, and Girona's Silvi Club fight for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Girona at Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
PSV's Malik Tillman, center, scores his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Girona at Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
PSV's Malik Tillman, foreground, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Girona at Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
PSV's Malik Tillman, left, scores his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Girona at Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
