Injured Nuggets player listed ahead of Game 7 against the Clippers
Gearing Up for the Game 7 Showdown: Denver Nuggets Battling injuries
The Denver Nuggets are stepping into the high-stakes Game 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers with a tad bit of concern, as they've revealed a minimal injury report. The team has only one player on the list - DaRon Holmes II, who is still recovering from a right Achilles tendon injury.
The 6-foot-10 center, a primo college star, has been unable to make a single appearance this season due to the injury sustained during the opening game of the NBA 2K25 Summer League in July 2024.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT on TNT, with the series tied 3-3. Despite his immense potential, Holmes' rookie season has been marked by recovery, leaving the Nuggets without his presence throughout the season.
Game 7: The Nuggets' Last Dance
With Holmes out, the rest of Denver's roster is fully available for the potentially final game of the team's 2024-25 campaign. As they prepare to secure a second-round berth, the Nuggets will rely on their core rotation, including Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
The team is coming off a 111-105 loss in Game 6 in Los Angeles, which forced the winner-take-all Game 7 back at Ball Arena. The series has been a thrilling roller coaster ride, with both teams trading momentum over the past two weeks.
If the Nuggets manage to avoid a first-round exit, they'll face the tough challenge of the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Thunder, who posted an NBA-best 68-14 regular-season record, are fresh off a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Holmes' Injury Saga
Originally selected No. 22 overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2024 NBA Draft, Holmes then changed teams when the Suns traded him to Denver later that offseason. A standout at Dayton, Holmes was named Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 20.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
However, his rookie campaign has been shadowed by the lingering injury, leaving the Nuggets without his much-needed presence. The right Achilles tendon rupture that he sustained during Summer League play required surgical repair, and as of May 2025, a return timeline remains unconfirmed.
- The Denver Nuggets are stepping into the high-stakes Game 7 against the Los Angeles Clippers with a concern about DaRon Holmes II's injury recovery, as he's still sidelined due to a right Achilles tendon injury.
- The Nuggets, with Holmes out, are relying on bets and odds for a possible Game 7 victory, depending on the continuity and performance of their core rotation including Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
- The playoffs have been a thrilling roller coaster ride for the Denver Nuggets, as they enter Game 7 with a 3-3 series tie, hoping for a recovery in Game 7 at Ball Arena.
- If the Nuggets manage to advance past the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference First Round, they will be faced with another tough challenge in the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are fresh off a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
- Despite his immense potential, Holmes' presence on the court during the 2024-25 NBA season has been a question mark due to his prolonged recovery from the injury sustained during the opening game of the NBA 2K25 Summer League in 2024.
- Originally selected by the Phoenix Suns, Holmes was then traded to the Denver Nuggets and had a successful junior season at Dayton, earning co-player of the year honors in the Atlantic 10 Conference, but his rookie season has been marred by sports injuries, particularly the persistent right Achilles tendon issue.
