The fourth quarter of Game 6 between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder started without the best player in the world on the floor. This was quite surprising considering the pattern in this postseason. Whenever Nuggets coach David Adelman felt a dire need for a win – like in Game 4 against the Clippers or Game 5 against the Thunder – he had kept Nikola Jokić on the court for the entire final quarter. The outcomes had been a mixed bag. Denver won Game 4 against the Clippers but blew a 22-point lead in the process. In Game 5 against the Thunder, despite losing, Jokić had a sensational performance with 13 of Denver’s 19 points. The move to keep him on was born out of desperation, as the Nuggets had struggled without him for most of his career. Denver would have loved to at least sneak him a minute or two in those critical games, but their bench had not made that feasible.
Unexpectedly, Adelman felt comfortable taking the risk of resting Jokić on Thursday night because little-used reserve Julian Strawther had just delivered a stellar performance. With the score tied at 80, Strawther scored eight points in the final 1:37 of the third quarter, giving Adelman a surprising cushion to give Jokić a well-deserved break. Strawther went on to score 15 points in the game, all of which came in the second half. As the fourth quarter began, the Nuggets had extended their lead to 11 points with 10:29 remaining, thanks to a Jamal Murray 3-pointer. While it might have seemed like the perfect time to bring Jokić back in, Adelman continued to trust his bench. The decision almost backfired as Oklahoma City quickly scored four points and had a chance for a transition dunk to cut the lead to five. Peyton Watson came to the rescue with a crucial block, denying them the opportunity. Moments later, Watson grabbed an important offensive rebound off a missed Russell Westbrook 3-pointer, setting up Strawther for free throws. This foul finally led to Jokić returning to the floor.
In a series featuring some of the best players in the world and potential Hall of Famers, the focus has often shifted to whether Denver’s supporting cast can provide enough help to Jokić, Murray, and Aaron Gordon. The outcome of the games seemed to rely heavily on whether the supporting players could step up. For instance, Denver managed to win Game 3 despite Jokić having a poor shooting night from beyond the arc, thanks to Michael Porter Jr.’s impressive performance. However, losses in Games 4 and 5 were a result of poor shooting from the Nuggets not named Jokić, especially in two crucial fourth quarters where they held substantial leads. Despite Jokić’s efforts to create opportunities for his teammates, their inability to convert led to a disparity between potential and actual assists. The starting lineup had outscored the Thunder significantly, but the series was slipping away due to the struggles of the rest of the team. In this context, a bench player like Strawther making a significant impact with 15 points was a major development that potentially altered the course of the series.
Former Denver general manager Calvin Booth had placed his bet on the young players to step up and provide the necessary support for Jokić to lead the team to contention. While their performances had been inconsistent leading up to the playoffs, the pivotal Game 6 showcased the potential of players like Strawther and Watson. Despite initial doubts and struggles, these players proved their worth when it mattered the most. Whether Adelman’s trust in the bench players will pay off in the long run remains to be seen, but for now, the Nuggets are still in the game thanks to the contributions of some of the least expected players. Jokić may not need a lot to keep the team competitive, but the supporting cast stepping up like they did in Game 6 could be the key to their success moving forward.
