TITLE: Injuries Force Nuggets, Bulls and Jazz to Adjust Rotations
SLUG: injuries-force-nuggets-bulls-jazz-to-adjust-rotations
CONTENT:
The Denver Nuggets will be without starting swingman Christian Braun for at least six weeks after he suffered a left ankle sprain late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the timeline, and the club confirmed the diagnosis in a statement.
Braun rolled the ankle when he landed awkwardly after briefly tangling with James Harden near mid-court. The 23-year-old had missed only nine games in his first three NBA seasons, but the projected six-week absence will cover 19 Denver games on the current schedule.
The injury interrupts a solid start to Braun’s first year under the five-year, $125 million rookie-scale extension he signed on Oct. 20. Last season he averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 58.0 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from three and 82.7 percent at the line over 79 games. Through nine contests this fall, he was posting 11.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 30.8 minutes, while continuing to anchor Denver’s perimeter defense.
With Braun sidelined, minutes are expected to shift toward Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and rookie Julian Strawther, while Peyton Watson could see time in Cameron Johnson’s spot. Johnson (right bicep strain) has been ruled out for Saturday’s game in Minnesota, and two-time MVP Nikola Jokić is listed as questionable with a left wrist sprain.
Bulls
Coby White (calf) and Josh Giddey (ankle) participated fully in Friday’s practice, including contact work, and are expected to return during Chicago’s five-games-in-seven-days stretch that begins Sunday in Utah, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network. Because the trip contains two sets of back-to-backs, the medical staff is still determining which nights each guard will play and how many minutes they will log.
White, who has yet to appear this season, joked that he is lobbying to play all five contests but acknowledged he is likely limited to three games at roughly 24 minutes each. Forward/center Zach Collins (left wrist surgery) has had his splint removed, is passing and shooting again, and is not expected to need an extended ramp-up period, coach Billy Donovan told reporters.
Jazz
The Utah Jazz announced that forward Georges Niang continues to increase activity as he recovers from a stress reaction in his left foot. Niang, who has not played this season, will be reevaluated in one week.
The injury updates leave all three clubs shuffling their rotations as they navigate the early portion of the schedule.
Source: Hoops Wire
