Julian Strawther showed out in a major way in the Denver Nuggets’ 119-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. His performance ended up carrying the Nuggets to the highly coveted Game 7 in their first-round playoff series. Strawther had been on the winning side of a 19 and a half minute playoff high on the basketball court. He played a key role in the second half scoring all 15 of his points after the break. His strong showing was needed the most by the Nuggets, who were on the verge of being eliminated.
Strawther’s stellar shooting was on full display throughout the game. He shot 75% (3-4) from beyond the arc and was a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe. The rookie’s ball pressure late in the game seemed to awaken the Nuggets. So, they got the victory and pushed the series further. His contributions were all the more impressive given that he had played a total of 14 minutes over the previous three games. He even recorded a “DNP” (did not play) in Game 3.
After the game, Strawther reflected, “That’s the moment you dream about as a kid! You step into the game and all the players trust you. They look for you in your areas, the places you can really thrive, and you’re able to really make an impact.”
Nuggets’ interim coach David Adelman said that making them ready was the biggest challenge in getting players like Strawther prepared. He had told him to always be ready for your chance, and that advice came in handy during this pivotal game.
Strawther’s performance took place against a backdrop of significant worry about the Nuggets’ health. Aaron Gordon, who has been quietly one of the most dependable players in all of Denver’s playoff runs, went down with a hamstring injury in-game. This threw his availability for Game 7 into doubt. Strawther has been dealing with a left hamstring injury. Just how bad it is has been a bit of a mystery.
In what was perhaps the most bizarre turn of events in the fourth quarter, Strawther lost a tooth while on the court. Yet through this adversity, he rose to the occasion, demonstrating his unwillingness to give up and exceptional mental fortitude.
That triumph lifted the Nuggets past the Austin Spurs and into a winner-take-all Game 7 this Sunday in Oklahoma City. They will again need to get every player contributing if they wish to get deeper into the playoffs. Nikola Jokic, Denver’s budding star, was just as impressed with what Strawther brought, saying, “He was great.”
As the Nuggets get ready for Game 7, both Strawther and Gordon will be ones to watch. Gordon remains completely dedicated to his recovery. I’m going to begin the recovery process immediately so I can be at my best for Game 7. Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr. reflected on his own challenges throughout the playoffs but remained optimistic about contributing effectively in critical moments.
