Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon has 21 stitches after dog bite, ready to play

The result was Gordon needing 21 stitches after suffering lacerations to his face and hand. Nonetheless, he may play when the Nuggets face the Hornets on Monday, per Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.

The Nuggets will leave it up to him, Durano added.

“I guess it’s a little bit embarrassing, but not too embarrassing to where I can’t talk about it,” Gordon said of the Christmas Day incident. “I don’t drink a lot during the season. I probably had a little bit too much eggnog. I was kind of roughhousing with my dog, and I think my dog got a little excited and just basically chomped down. Gave me a bite. And I was basically wrestling him off of me, and then he bit my hand.

“For lack of better words, I was (messing) around with my dog, and when you (mess) around, you find out.”

The majority of Gordon’s stitches are in his right hand.

“I’ve played with stitches in my hand before, so that’s not new to me,” Gordon said. “I don’t really care about the stitches on my face. We’re not running a pageant here.”

And no, he doesn’t blame his dog for the setback.

“He’s a good boy. He’s a good dog,” Gordon said. “Very attached. Very sweet. Very strong. Great dog.”

Gordon, 28, is averaging 13.6 points and 6.9 boards in his fourth season in Denver and 11th season overall.