cam johnson left the Denver Nuggets’ Sunday game against the Golden State Warriors after hobbing to the locker room in clear pain and was listed as questionable to return. The Nuggets entered the night with no players on the initial injury report, but the situation flipped fast as three forwards were suddenly unavailable. The setbacks unfolded on Sunday in the matchup with the Warriors, putting Denver in a tighter spot as the game continued.
Injuries pile up quickly for Denver
Aaron Gordon was ruled out about an hour before tip-off on Sunday (ET), turning what had looked like a clean pregame injury picture into an immediate rotation problem. With Gordon a late scratch, Spencer Jones was expected to take on a significant role against the Warriors, particularly with Denver preferring to run a small-ball lineup when Nikola Jokic is off the floor.
That plan didn’t last long. Jones played six minutes before leaving with right hamstring tightness. He was listed as questionable to return, and the Nuggets later announced his night was finished. Jones ended his brief appearance with zero points, one rebound, one steal, and one block, but his absence was framed as meaningful beyond the box score because much of his value comes on the defensive end.
Cam Johnson listed questionable after back spasms
cam johnson then became the next major concern. Johnson left Sunday’s game four minutes into the second half and headed to the locker room while holding his side. He was listed as questionable to return due to back spasms.
Johnson had been playing some of his best basketball of the season recently, making his status especially important as the Nuggets tried to manage the remainder of the game. His departure came at a moment described as feeling like a must-win situation against a shorthanded Warriors team, raising the stakes for how Denver would close without a key forward available.
Johnson’s night was expected to end with six points, three assists, one steal, and one block through 19 minutes of action.
Immediate reactions and official updates
The Nuggets issued an in-game update that Jones would not return, formally ending his availability after the right hamstring issue. Johnson was listed questionable due to back spasms after leaving in visible discomfort, leaving Denver to wait on any further determination as the game moved forward Sunday (ET).
With Gordon scratched close to tip-off and Jones’ night ruled over, the team’s forward depth was immediately tested, and the rotation had to be adjusted on the fly.
Quick context
Denver has dealt with injuries through most of the 2025-26 season, but recently had seen its entire lineup play together. Sunday’s sequence reversed that momentum during the game itself, despite the initial injury report listing no players out.
What’s next
Attention now turns to the Nuggets’ next official status updates Sunday (ET) and beyond, particularly on whether cam johnson can return from back spasms and how Denver recalibrates if multiple forwards remain unavailable. With three forwards impacted in a single night—one scratched late and two leaving mid-game—Denver’s immediate rotation decisions will likely hinge on the next round of team announcements.
