For the past few weeks, Denver’s been treated like a reality show: first, that Game 2 collapse in L.A.; then the rumor mill turned up the heat with reports of a locker-room blow-up between Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon. One anonymous Nugget even labeled Russ “immature,” prompting headlines about a championship squad on life support.

Fast-forward to Wednesday night: Denver puts the clamps on the Thunder for a 119–107 win in Game 6, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7, and the “chemistry issues” chatter has gone radio silent. This team didn’t splinter—it re-discovered itself, exactly when it mattered most.

By the time Coach David Adelman strolled into the postgame mix, tension was nowhere in sight. His message was half pep talk, half roast—light-hearted but laser-focused. He reminded everyone they’d earned a mental day off before flying to OKC, quipping, “It’s gonna feel really good not to see each other.” Then he did what good coaches do: spread the credit.

“Multiple effort people. Peyton, Russ defensively, energy you brought in… Nikola Jokic does Nikola Jokic things. But everybody made an impact. As a team, man—that’s what we’re gonna need in Game 7.”

Adelman’s words weren’t just coach-speak—they were a clear signal that this team’s unity runs deeper than any headline.

Back when the rumors were rising, Aaron Gordon also chimed in, blasting the ESPN report as “arbitrary, pointless, and unnecessary.” Rather than cooling things off, he praised Westbrook as a great teammate and “a good person,” reminding fans that locker room yelling isn’t a red flag. “We’re brothers,” AG said. “We spend more time with our team than we do with our own family. Of course, there’s going to be disagreements.”

Winning teams fight—and that fire often turns into fuel, which needs to continue in the all-important Game 7.

Russell Westbrook Silences the Noise as Nuggets Let Their Game Talk

Game 6 wasn’t about drama—it was about dudes hooping. Rookie Julian Strawther popped off for a playoff career-high 15 points off the bench, splashing two key threes when Nikola Jokic sat on the bench. Christian Braun went into full scoring mode with 23 points and 11 boards. That’s two bench guys helping flip the game in a must-win spot. That’s culture.

And Russ? The guy people said was “a problem”? Russell Westbrook is still out there getting minutes in crunch time and getting shoutouts for his defense. He clamped Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earlier in the series, and he’s still bringing energy when the Nuggets need stops. Adelman made sure everyone knew it, too. The man hasn’t been phased—he’s adapted, embraced the role, and stayed ready. That’s not dysfunction. That’s maturity.

The Nuggets erased a 10-point deficit in Game 6 and slammed the door in the fourth. Jamal Murray, playing through illness, dropped 25-8-7. Jokic casually added 29-14-8. And that second unit—Strawther, Braun, and Russ—held it down when it mattered. The box score says it all. The vibes confirmed it.

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And no, this isn’t just about one game. Denver’s assist numbers are high. The bench is giving them 20.5 points per game. The ball’s flying around. Everyone’s engaged. If this locker room was broken, you wouldn’t see this kind of cohesion under pressure.

Now, it’s one game to decide everything. Game 7 in OKC. Winner takes all. But if you’re still holding on to the idea that Denver is imploding, that Russ is a locker room cancer, or that the champs are finished, it might be time to let that narrative go. They’ve already left it behind.