DENVER (AP) — Now this was finally a role Julian Strawther could sink his teeth into, even if it cost him one.
NBA commish drops another hint about potential expansion talks
Playing meaningful extended minutes for first time in the series, the former Gonzaga star provided a spark off the bench as he scored all 15 of his points in the second half Thursday night. His big game helped propel the Denver Nuggets to a 119-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder and force a Game 7 on Sunday.
“That’s the moment you dream of when you’re a little kid — come to the game, having all the guys believe in you, find you in your spots and be able to just make an impact on the game,” said Strawther, a 2023 first-round draft pick out of Gonzaga.
LET IT FLYYY JU
15 PTS / 3 3PM pic.twitter.com/AMKaEbjVQy
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 16, 2025
Strawther certainly left it all on the floor, including a tooth (a prosthetic one) that happened to pop out in the fourth quarter when he took contact from an Oklahoma City player. He tried to get the officials to stop play long enough to gather it up. But the action was already heading the other way.
A ball boy scooped it up for him in a towel and returned it to the bench. By the time Strawther addressed the media following the game, he had it back in place.
He explained that after he lost a baby tooth as a kid, the adult version — located on the right side next to his front tooth — never grew in.
“We got it back,” Strawther said.
Just like that, the Nuggets are going back to Oklahoma City for Game 7. It was their sole mission after frittering away a fourth-quarter lead and losing there in Game 5.
“(Julian) was amazing,” said Nikola Jokic, who had 29 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. “He had the big points, the big moments of the game.”
Three from the corner pic.twitter.com/962pqP7Cqz
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 16, 2025
Strawther finished 3 of 4 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the line. Above all, he helped the Nuggets maintain their momentum in the fourth quarter as Jokic sat on the bench to get some valuable rest. Strawther played 19 1/2 minutes, his playoff high.
This after being limited to 14 minutes combined over the last three games, including a “DNP” — did not play — in Game 3. Interim coach David Adelman told him to stay ready.
He listened.
“Understanding that there’s a night that I may not check in at all,” Strawther explained. “And there’s a night like tonight where he’s going to ride with me.
“Me and (Adelman) have had a transparent relationship through these playoffs, and I’m really appreciative for him throwing me out there tonight.”
Strawther, the No. 29 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, spent three seasons at Gonzaga. As as a junior in 2022-23, he averaged 15.2 points per game and hit a deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Zags a Sweet Sixteen win over UCLA.
Strawther averaged 9.0 points per game for the Nuggets during the regular season. Prior to his Game 6 outburst, he had scored just 17 total points in seven games during Denver’s playoff run.
After his breakout performance Thursday, Strawther’s role may increase even more depending on the status of Aaron Gordon, who hurt his left hamstring late in the game.
“I feel OK. We’ll see,” Gordon said after the game. “I’m going to start the recovery process now, to make sure I’m ready for a Game 7.”
Seattle Sports staff made additions to this story.
How Sonics expansion could be hindered by Trail Blazers going up for sale