IdnAround.com — Julian Strawther has been steadily working his way back into the Denver Nuggets’ rotation after suffering a left knee sprain in early March against the Boston Celtics. Before the injury, the former Gonzaga standout was averaging around 24 minutes per game, but his role diminished significantly once he returned to health near the end of the regular season.
After sitting out the first-round series against the LA Clippers, Strawther has gradually found opportunities against the Oklahoma City Thunder—a team known for its dominant paint defense. With Denver in need of perimeter shooting, his skill set offers valuable floor spacing.
In Game 5, Strawther logged a meaningful stretch of eight minutes between the first and second quarters, then returned for a brief two-minute stint at the end of the third. However, interim head coach David Adelman opted not to keep him on the floor to start the fourth, as Strawther watched from the bench while Russell Westbrook misfired on two three-point attempts.
Despite limited time on the court, Strawther made the most of his 10 minutes: he hit a deep three-pointer, grabbed two rebounds, dished out an assist, and recorded a steal on a Lu Dort drive. While he’s not putting up Nikola Jokic-type numbers, these contributions could be crucial if the Nuggets hope to mount a comeback in the series.
Speaking after the game, Strawther acknowledged the emotional and mental toll of recovering from his injury and returning to form.
“I’d be lying if I said there weren’t tough days,” Strawther said. “But I’ve got a locker room full of guys who keep uplifting me and pushing positive energy into my head. I really want to thank the team for helping me get through that stretch. I hadn’t played since February—it’s been hard—but to get to this point where the coaches and my teammates trust me again, it means everything.”
The 23-year-old said contributing in a playoff environment was gratifying, even though the team ultimately came up short.
Looking ahead to Game 6, Strawther may have earned himself a longer leash. With Denver struggling from beyond the arc in recent games, giving the young sharpshooter more minutes could be a low-risk, high-reward move—provided his defense holds up. While he’s still relatively new to the NBA playoffs, his deep postseason experience in college, including a National Championship appearance as a freshman, could serve him well on the big stage.
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