When the schedule was released for the 2025-26 season, Milwaukee Bucks fans likely circled January 23rd's contest against the Denver Nuggets as a must-watch game, featuring two of the best international players of all time in Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo going head-to-head.

However, injuries have plagued this Nuggets team this season, with Denver heading into this game with just one of their opening night starters available in Aaron Gordon, and even he ended up leaving the game early due to injury. Regardless, this Nuggets team proved they might be the best in the league at battling adversity.

Entering the fourth quarter in the driver's seat of this game and leading by as many as 23 points, the Bucks were able to take the game to the last shot as Kyle Kuzma's game-winning three-pointer hit the front of the rim as the Nuggets secured a major 102-100 victory.

As mentioned, the Nuggets lost their lone opening night starter in Aaron Gordon during the second quarter, and were still able to hold off a Bucks team that got 22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo and 21 points from Ryan Rollins.

After the game, veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. spoke about the team's ability to step up in the face of adversity, and how their depth continues to answer the call when needed.

"Guys are in the gym every single day working their tail off for opportunities. When they have that opportunity to go out here and compete on both ends of the floor, they taking full advantage of it. It's great for us because it's setting us up for later on in the season, just in case anything like this does happen," Hardaway said.

This isn't the first instance this season that the Nuggets have been able to step up with their starters out, as they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on January 5th in an overtime thriller, with Jalen Pickett leading the way with a career-high 29 points.

On Friday, it was Julian Strawther who stepped up, leading the team in scoring with 20 points while adding five rebounds, finishing tied for the team-high with a +12 plus-minus. Hardaway Jr. had a strong game himself, adding 17 points despite the 5-of-14 shooting night.

While it isn't a great situation to not have your starters available, it only improves this Nuggets team going forward due to the number of players who have played quality minutes for them this season. If they enter the postseason with a healthy roster, no team in the NBA can stack up with them depth-wise.

Denver returns to action on Sunday to end their three-game road trip in Memphis against the Grizzlies.