On the second night of a tough back-to-back and without most of their core rotation, the Denver Nuggets rolled into Milwaukee and walked away with a gutsy 102-100 win. That kind of resilience doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it says a lot about the depth and mentality of this roster-even when the heavy hitters are sidelined.
Denver was missing a laundry list of key players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Cam Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas were all out. And to make matters worse, Aaron Gordon exited before halftime with yet another hamstring issue. But instead of folding, the Nuggets leaned on their bench-and one player in particular stepped up in a big way.
Julian Strawther, who’s spent most of the season watching from the sidelines or battling injuries, made the most of his opportunity under the bright lights. In just 26 minutes, he poured in 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, grabbed five boards, and dished out three assists. It wasn’t just the numbers-it was the confidence, the rhythm, and the spark he gave a depleted lineup that needed someone to take the reins.
This is the version of Strawther the Nuggets hoped to see more of this season. After coming into the year with expectations of growth, he’s largely been on the outside looking in-fighting through injuries and struggling to carve out a consistent role. But sometimes all it takes is a window of opportunity, and Strawther kicked that window wide open.
He’d shown flashes recently, even in garbage time of a blowout loss to the Hornets, where he found a bit of rhythm. But Friday night was different.
This wasn’t mop-up duty-this was a meaningful performance in a close game, on the road, against a top-tier opponent. And he delivered.
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
Strawther’s performance may not only help the Nuggets in the short term-it could also carry weight as the trade deadline approaches. With Denver’s rotation already crowded when fully healthy, it’s tough to see a clear path to consistent minutes for Strawther down the stretch. But for teams in the midst of a rebuild, a 23-year-old wing with shooting touch and untapped upside could be a very appealing asset.
Pairing Strawther with Zeke Nnaji in a trade package would give Denver over $10 million in matching salary to work with. That opens the door to potential deals for a veteran role player who could fortify the rotation for a playoff push. Of course, moving Nnaji’s contract would require some cooperation from the other side, but Strawther’s upside could help sweeten the pot.
This deadline might be Denver’s best shot to make a small but meaningful upgrade. And while it’s easy to dismiss a performance like Strawther’s as a one-off, it only takes one front office to see potential and believe they can develop him. That belief, combined with Denver’s need to maximize its championship window, could make Strawther a name to watch over the next couple of weeks.
For now, though, it’s worth appreciating the moment. A young player seized his chance, helped his team steal a win on the road, and reminded everyone why he was so intriguing to begin with. Whether it’s a stepping stone to a bigger role in Denver or a ticket to a fresh start elsewhere, Julian Strawther made sure people were paying attention.