Nuggets' Gordon playing through hamstring injury in Game 7

Aaron Gordon surprisingly started for Sunday's Game 7 showdown against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gordon suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the Denver Nuggets' Game 6 win but will need several weeks to recover, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Gordon went through pregame warmups and was given the green light to suit up.

"If Aaron can go, he'll go. That's who he is," Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman said pregame, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "There's a real toughness there. Sometimes being really, really tough and being hurt can get in the way."

Gordon has been a key part of the Nuggets' playoff run, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 boards, and 2.9 assists across 13 appearances. The 6-foot-8 forward's had a share of clutch moments throughout the postseason, including a game-winning triple against the Thunder in Game 1.

Denver is scoring 28 more points per 100 possessions with Gordon on the floor during the playoffs.