Julian Strawther Made the Most of His Opportunity Against Thunder

When Julian Strawther found out Friday morning that the Denver Nuggets' entire starting lineup was sitting out against Oklahoma City, he knew what it meant for him.

"It changes a lot, especially for me going from a bench rotation guy to being out there in the starting lineup and creating for the squad," Strawther said postgame. "These are the games that I live for. I love the opportunity."

He backed it up. Strawther finished with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting, hitting 4-of-7 from three, and added four rebounds and three assists in Denver's 127-107 win over the Thunder. With Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson all out, Strawther was one of the go-to guys, and he played like it. 

The Nuggets won the game on a 21-5 run to open the fourth quarter, and the bench unit carried the night. Denver's reserves outscored OKC's bench 50-37. Jonas Valanciunas led the team with 23 points and 17 rebounds, while David Roddy added 21 off the bench.

Strawther was right there with them, giving Denver exactly what they needed from a guy who doesn't always get this many touches.

Strawther talked postgame about something he's been working on for a while: staying ready no matter what the rotation looks like. Minutes have fluctuated for him this season, and staying locked in through that inconsistency isn't easy. But he pointed to a shift in his mindset that's been building over three years in the league.

"Over my three years, being ready and actually understanding what that means kind of clicked for me," he said. "Watching guys like Tim, who come in with an ultra, ultra green light and plays with so much confidence, and understanding that we're kind of from the same mold. Just trying to pick that up from him as well."

That's a big admission from a young player. He's not just talking about staying in shape or knowing the plays. He's talking about the mental side of being a role player who has to stay sharp even when his number isn't being called consistently.

The fact that he's actively modeling his approach after a veteran teammate shows a level of self-awareness that tends to translate when playoff pressure ramps up. Friday was proof that it's working.

The win mattered beyond just Strawther's box score. Denver secured a top-four finish in the Western Conference, locking up home-court advantage in the first round. The Nuggets wrap up the regular season Sunday at San Antonio. 

Jamal Murray has already talked publicly about how important Strawther will be when the playoffs start. Friday was a reminder of why. When he's comfortable and the shots are falling, he's a genuine difference-maker. That's exactly the version of Strawther Denver needs come playoff time, and he showed he's capable of delivering it.