Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon injured his hamstring near the end of the second quarter and did not return for the second half of Friday's game against the Bucks.

The Bucks couldn’t find a way to beat the Nuggets—even without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Cameron Johnson, and Christian Braun—for the second time this season, losing 102-100. It’s Milwaukee’s second straight loss and sixth in their last eight games.

Julian Strawther scored a season-high 20 points and the short-handed Denver Nuggets built a 23-point lead before hanging on to beat the slumping Milwaukee Bucks 102-100.

The Denver Nuggets stay on the road Friday night with a trip to Milwaukee to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks suffered their second straight loss on Friday night. After falling to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday,

Aaron Gordon left the Nuggets’ game Friday in Milwaukee with a right hamstring strain. He missed more than a month with the same injury early this season.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo thinks he will be out for an extended period after hurting his right calf again after a similar injury already caused him to miss eight games earlier this season.

Denver responded with a 9-0 run, with Watson making a 3-pointer and another jumper during the stretch. He later surpassed his previous season and career best of 32 points with a free throw with 1:50 remaining after overcoming an awkward fall during a contested dunk attempt.

The Milwaukee Bucks will open doors early tonight vs. the Denver Nuggets due to the cold.