Julian Strawther’s biggest moment in Nuggets uniform helps save Denver’s season

The last time Julian Strawther played meaningful minutes in an elimination game at Ball Arena, he was wearing a Gonzaga uniform.

With just 10 games of playoff experience under his belt coming into Thursday nights Game 6, Strawther was trusted by interim coach David Adelman to deliver and close a game with Denvers season on the line.

The Nuggets second-year guard delivered and then some.

Strawther finished with a playoff career-high 15 points in nearly 20 minutes, by far the most hes played in his young postseason career.

Thats the moments that you dream of as a little kid, Strawther said.

Coming into 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.

He only needed a little over three minutes to make an impact, though.

Strawther checked into the game with 3:03 left in the third quarter and the Nuggets up by two.

After Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tied the score with an acrobatic layup, Strawther hit a 3-pointer to retake the lead for Denver moments later.

A minute after that, he hit his second 3-pointer of the night and high-fived a fan courtside while running back on defense.

In the dying seconds of the quarter, Jamal Murray found him for an alley-oop layup that put the Nuggets up 10.

His last bucket of the night? A 3-pointer in the corner, right in front of the Denver bench, that put his team up 16 points with under four minutes to play and one that served as the dagger in the 119-107 win.

I just wanted to share that moment with my brothers, we all got emotion behind it, Strawther said.

Thats a moment Ill remember.

He already has plenty of moments to remember in Ball Arena.

As a junior at Gonzaga, he won a pair of NCAA Tournament games in this building and hit some big shots along the way, as he often did for the Bulldogs.

Theres just something about Strawther and the bright lights in downtown Denver.

Especially tonight, its super fun, Strawther said.

The crowd is so engaged.

You go to other arenas and its a little different here.

Just the fans and how loud it gets, were just truly thankful.

I feel like I played in every big game that college basketball had to offer and Ive been able to have moments in those games.

My confidence when the lights are brighter are sky high..

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