As Game 6 between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder entered its final period on Thursday, the league`s top player, Nikola Jokić, was notably absent from the court. This decision was somewhat unexpected, particularly given coach David Adelman`s tendency in critical moments—like Game 4 against the Clippers or Game 5 versus the Thunder—to keep Jokić on the floor for the entire fourth quarter.
These high-stakes minutes with Jokić have yielded inconsistent outcomes. While Denver secured a Game 4 victory despite squandering a significant lead, they fell in Game 5, even with Jokić delivering a sensational performance, scoring 13 of the team`s 19 points in the final frame. Keeping him in is often a measure of last resort, necessitated by the team`s historical difficulties when he`s off the court. The Nuggets ideally would provide him short breaks during crucial stretches, but their bench unit has typically made this infeasible.
However, Adelman felt comfortable taking the gamble of resting Jokić late on Thursday night because barely-used reserve Julian Strawther had just experienced arguably the best 100 seconds of his professional career. With the score tied at 80, Strawther remarkably scored eight points in the final 1:37 of the third quarter. This unexpected surge provided Adelman with a cushion, allowing him to give Jokić a well-deserved rest. Strawther finished the game with 15 points, all scored in the second half.
With 10:29 left in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets had extended their lead to 11 thanks to a Jamal Murray 3-pointer. This seemed like an opportune moment to reintroduce Jokić. Denver had successfully navigated 90 seconds of game time without him. Yet, Adelman again placed trust in his reserves. The situation nearly deteriorated rapidly. Oklahoma City quickly scored four points and had a fast-break opportunity for a dunk that could have cut the deficit to five. Peyton Watson emphatically denied this chance with a fierce block on Jalen Williams. A few possessions later, Watson secured a crucial offensive rebound on a missed Russell Westbrook 3-pointer, which led to Strawther getting free throws. This foul stoppage was the moment Jokić finally returned to the game.
Ordinarily, these contributions from role players might not warrant such close examination in a series featuring top-tier talent and future Hall of Famers. However, this matchup has largely hinged on whether Denver`s supporting cast could offer even minimal assistance to their stars: Jokić, Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
Denver managed to win Game 3 despite a rare 0-for-10 shooting night from 3-point range for Jokić, largely because Michael Porter Jr. had his first strong shooting performance of the playoffs. Conversely, they lost Games 4 and 5 because players not named Jokić shot a combined 6-of-31 from the field and 1-of-19 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarters where they had held substantial leads. Leading up to Game 6, Jokić had generated 74 potential assists but only recorded 26 actual assists, a testament to his teammates` struggles in converting the opportunities he created. The starting lineup had outperformed the Thunder by 31 points in the series, but the team was losing overall due to the struggles of every other unit.
In the context of this specific series, a bench player erupting for 15 points is a major turning point. Watson`s two significant plays specifically thwarted Oklahoma City`s comeback attempts that could have potentially swung the momentum, and perhaps the series outcome. And let`s not forget Christian Braun, who also delivered a strong performance with 23 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Former Denver general manager Calvin Booth had based the franchise`s championship aspirations on these young players developing sufficiently to provide the affordable support Jokić would need for sustained contention. Booth was eventually let go, partly because these young players hadn`t yet earned former coach Michael Malone`s complete trust by April. While this created organizational tension, based on the performance seen prior to both departures, Malone`s reservations weren`t entirely unfounded. There was limited evidence before the 2025 postseason suggesting Strawther and Watson would be reliable bench contributors. Braun, despite a breakout regular season, had also faced offensive difficulties for much of these playoffs.
But in the most crucial game of the season so far, these much-criticized young players truly stepped up. Whether Adelman`s newfound trust will continue to be validated, or if this was a one-game anomaly, the Nuggets` season is still alive thanks to contributions from some of their most questioned players. Jokić doesn`t require monumental efforts to keep his team competitive. Nobody expects Strawther to score 30 or Watson to completely shut down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for an entire game. However, if the supporting cast can simply provide the level of support they demonstrated on Thursday, Jokić might just be able to carry the Nuggets the rest of the way.
Jasper Hawthorne