Julian Strawther Rises from the Shadows to Ignite Nuggets' Game 7 Charge
You want a story? Here's one—Julian Strawther thought he was done. Out. Watching the playoffs from the bench, cheering from the sidelines. But when the Denver Nuggets needed a spark to keep their season alive, guess who lit the match? Strawther, the unexpected hero, came off the pine and flipped Game 6 on its head—turning what looked like the beginning of summer vacation into a flight delay for Oklahoma City.
If you'd told me two weeks ago that Strawther would be the reason the Nuggets are heading to a Game 7 in OKC, I'd have raised an eyebrow. But that's exactly what happened. With 15 clutch points, energy on both ends, and the kind of poise that makes you forget he's a rookie, Strawther seized his moment. It wasn’t just about scoring—it was about momentum. It was about sending a message: Don’t count us out.
Also Read:- The Brutalist: A Towering, Unmissable Masterpiece Streaming Now
- Ralph Fiennes Steps Into the Shadows as President Snow in Hunger Games Prequel
Christian Braun, another one of Calvin Booth’s draft gems, was right there with him. Braun’s third double-double of the postseason—23 points, 11 boards—was a performance that put him statistically alongside names like LeBron James and Anthony Edwards over the past month. And he’s doing it without the fanfare, just effort and execution. “There’s no time to play like a young guy,” he said, and man, he meant it.
These aren’t just young players stepping up. This is a vindication tour for Calvin Booth, the former GM who drafted these guys, then was shown the door last month in the Kroenke-led overhaul. Say what you will, but his fingerprints are all over this Game 6 victory. Strawther, Braun, Watson—they were the difference when the Nuggets’ stars needed a breather. Booth saw something in them before the rest of the league did. And Thursday night, Denver saw it loud and clear.
Strawther was never supposed to be the guy. He was told by interim coach David Adelman to stay ready—some nights, he might not even touch the court. Other nights, he might never leave it. This was one of those nights. He brought the energy, hit the shots, and gave Jokic just enough of a break to stay fresh for the finish.
Let’s be real: this series has been wild. The Thunder’s bench had been killing Denver all series. But finally, finally, the Nuggets flipped the script. Even though OKC’s bench still outscored Denver’s 32–27, Strawther’s burst mattered more—it shifted the vibe, the rhythm, the confidence. When he’s out there, hitting shots and stretching the floor, it changes everything. Suddenly OKC can’t double Jokic so freely. Suddenly Braun gets cleaner looks. Suddenly, the Nuggets are back.
And now? Game 7. High stakes. Hostile crowd. But this team has been there before—three Game 7 wins since 2020. Braun said it best: “Everybody in this room has been in that moment… but it’s the same thing—we’ve got to play well from the jump.”
Julian Strawther reminded everyone what readiness looks like. He proved that the moment doesn’t care about your role—it cares if you’re ready to meet it. On Thursday, he did. On Sunday, Denver’s season might just depend on it happening again.
Read More:
0 Comments