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DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 20: Aaron Gordon #32 of the Denver Nuggets brings the ball down the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter during Game Two of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Ball Arena on April 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

The Denver Nuggets are playing the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday, April 23, in a game that will not feature star forward Aaron Gordon.

Gordon has officially been ruled out with left calf tightness, and his injury status comes after he was downgraded multiple times for the Nuggets before Game 3.

With the series tied 1-1, Thursday night’s matchup is crucial for both sides, and before the game, the Nuggets announced their starting lineup and final injury report against the Timberwolves.

Nuggets Starting Lineup For Game 3

In the lead-up to Game 3, Denver took to social media to announce its starting lineup, a group that will not feature Gordon after his final injury update.

Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Spencer Jones, and Nikola Jokic were all named as starters by head coach David Adelman and his staff.

Outside of Jones, who is starting in place of Gordon, this is the typical starting lineup Denver has used for much of the season, and when all of those players are healthy.

As Gordon was ruled out just hours before Game 3, it’s fair to say that his injury might not become a long-term concern, but rather something the Nuggets didn’t want to risk.

“Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (calf) will not play tonight in Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources tell me,” NBA insider Chris Haynes first reported.

Still, his injury status going forward remains unknown, and Denver will face an uphill battle without one of their most important contributors on both sides of the ball.

 Nuggets Injury Report Vs Timberwolves

Along with Gordon, Peyton Watson remains sidelined for the Nuggets in Game 3. He has yet to play in the postseason so far as he continues to deal with a lingering hamstring strain.

However, while Watson remains out, according to Anthony Slater of ESPN, Denver has hope that he can return at some point in the series against the Timberwolves.

“Peyton Watson getting some court work after Nuggets shootaround this morning in Minnesota. Remains out tonight with a hamstring injury, but Denver hopeful to get him back in this Minnesota series. Swing factor,” he wrote on X.

As for Minnesota, they will be without Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon Jr. Both were questionable before the game with an illness, but were later ruled out.

Anthony Edwards is playing for the Timberwolves in Game 3, as he was upgraded shortly before the matchup despite also being listed as questionable for much of the day. The star continues to deal with a knee injury that sidelined him for most of the final month of the regular season, and while he isn’t 100%.

“This is the first year that I’ve ever seen anything different where he’s been frustrated by not feeling 100 percent,” head coach Finch said before the series against the Nuggets began. “He’s always played through little injuries, but I think this one, more than ever, felt it impinged the way he was able to play.”

Nuggets Vs Timberwolves Beef Before Game 3

After the Timberwolves won Game 2 of the series, wing player Jaden McDaniels went viral for his postgame comments calling all of the Nuggets players ‘bad defenders.’

In the time since, there has been a back and forth between him and Denver head coach David Adelman, with both responding to comments made.

As Edwards had said, there is a rivalry between the two teams, and now, in the middle of their third playoff series in four years, that appears more evident than ever.

In a crucial Game 3, both the Nuggets and Timberwolves could look at this as a must-win contest, as either the Nuggets would regain home-court advantage with a win, or Minnesota would take a grip on the series with two straight victories.

Game 3 of the series tips off on Thursday, April 23, at 8:30 pm CST, and will be live on Amazon Prime Video.